Many people with backyard pools install fences around them to keep toddlers and children from accessing them without adult supervision.
But that may not be enough to keep a child from getting into the area and possibly drowning.
One mother in Australia, Krystal Hill, shared a video showing how her toddler easily opened a pool gate. That post has since been taken down, so here’s a news report showing some of the footage.
A Perth mum has issued a warning to parents after her toddler used a toy car to gain access to a backyard pool. pic.twitter.com/mxCi1rLZUU
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) January 23, 2020
Her 3-year old son, Isaiah, figured out he could climb on top of his toy truck and reach the latch to the gate that was supposed to keep him safe.
She wrote:
I watched my 3-year-old who can’t swim independently yet, climb up and open the pool gate and then let himself and his little sister into the pool area. I am in a bit of shock at the moment!
And yes I sat back and watched it happen because I wanted to see if he could actually open it and I have filmed it to show parents that sometimes just a pool gate isn’t enough.
We will now be padlocking the gate but this is still no guarantee.
They can’t be out the back without full supervision anymore and if I’m busy doing something else inside I will be locking the back door. I am a bit shaken up over this.
She also posted a follow-up where she said she’d received many messages and comments from other parents thanking her for the video and for the reminder that children can’t be around swimming pools without an adult along.
Photo Credit: Pexels
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 to 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last year, tragedy struck the family of Olympic skier Bode Miller and his wife, Morgan, when their 1-year old daughter drowned in a neighbor’s pool. Now the couple encourages other families to enroll children in swim lessons starting when they are 6-months old.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
The American Academy of Pediatrics also cautions parents to never leave their children alone near any water, including pools, lakes, bathtubs and spas.
Sparkling swimming pools and other bodies of water are too tempting for children to ignore. As Hill’s frightening video shows, the risk of a child getting inside the gate is too high.
Keep kids safe and supervised around water. Please. It could literally save their life.
