• Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability. To enroll in a swim course, contact your local Red Cross chapter.

• Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.

• Read and obey all rules and posted signs.

• Children or inexperienced swimmers should take precautions, such as wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD) when around the water.

• Watch out for the dangerous “too’s” – too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.

• Set water safety rules for the whole family based on swimming abilities (for example, inexperienced swimmers should stay in water less than chest deep).

• Be knowledgeable of the water environment you are in and its potential hazards, such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth changes, obstructions and where the entry and exit points are located. The more informed you are, the more aware you will be of hazards and safe practices.

• Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.

• Use a feet-first entry when entering the water.

• Enter headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions.

• Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving or boating. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body's ability to stay warm.

• Know how to prevent, recognize, and respond to emergencies.

Article referenced from RedCross.org

• Safety ropes or safety lines are used to section off part of the pool to prevent people from entering into the pool's deep end. Safety lines are essentially long pieces of rope with floatable ends to keep it above water that are hooked on to the edges of a pool.
  
  
• Lifejackets and ring buoys are two important types of flotation devices commonly found around residential pools. Lifejackets should properly fit the person wearing it and be in a good and safe condition. Lifejackets should be tight fitting and not be able to slip off and should be approved by the Coast Guard.
  
  
• Ring buoys are round flotation devices that have a long rope or line attached. Ring buoys are used to retrieve someone from the water in the event of an emergency. They are available in different sizes and colors and should be approved by the Coast Guard to ensure they meet proper safety regulations.
  
  
• Reaching poles are another type of equipment that is pertinent for residential pool safety. Reaching poles should be of adequate length and put in a spot where they are easy to get to.
  
  
• Portable telephones are another important thing to have near a pool as time is crucial if an accident occurs. Posting numbers and your home's address is important to ensure an emergency call is promptly placed and emergency vehicles can quickly find your home.
  
  
• First-aid kits are a must by any pool. First-aid kits should be constantly re-stocked and have all pertinent items needed for pool and other backyard emergencies.

Finally, family members, friends, babysitters and everyone who enjoys your pool should seriously consider becoming certified in lifesaving practices and CPR. YMCA and American Red Cross are two such organizations that provide such training.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 260 children under five years of age drown each year in residential swimming pools and spas. The Commission estimates that another 3,000 children under age five are treated in hospital emergency rooms following submersion accidents each year. Some of these submersion accidents result in permanent brain damage.
Nationally, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death to children under five. In some states such as California, Florida and Arizona, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death to children under five.

CPSC offers the following tips for pool owners:

• Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool.

• Instruct babysitters about potential hazards to young children in and around swimming pools and the need for constant supervision.

• Completely fence the pool. Install self-closing and self-latching gates. Position latches out of reach of young children. Keep all doors and windows leading to the pool area secure to prevent small children from getting to the pool. Effective barriers and locks are necessary preventive measures, but there is no substitute for supervision.

• Do not consider young children "drown proof" because they have had swimming lessons; young children should always be watched carefully while swimming.

• Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.

• Never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, since children may become entrapped under it. Remove the cover completely.

• Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area.

• Keep toys away from the pool area because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water.

• Remove steps to above ground pools when not in use.

• Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency numbers at the poolside telephone.

• Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

• Keep rescue equipment by the pool.

PARENTS AND GUARDIANS: ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT A DROWNING. WATCH YOUR CHILD CLOSELY AT ALL TIMES. MAKE SURE DOORS LEADING TO THE POOL AREA ARECLOSED AND LOCKED. YOUNG CHILDREN CAN QUICKLY SLIP AWAY AND INTO THE POOL.
CPSC requests that consumers report incidents of drowning or "near drowning" by calling the Commission toll-free at 1-800-638-2772.

Diving Safety

THE CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION CAUTIONS DIVERS ABOUT IMPROPER DIVING PRACTICES
Diving injuries can result in quadriplegia, paralysis below the neck, to divers who hit the bottom or side of a swimming pool, according to CPSC.

Divers should observe the following precautions:

• Never dive into above-ground pools. They are too shallow.

• Don't dive from the side of an in-ground pool. Enter the water feet first.

• Dive only from the end of the diving board and not from the sides.

• Dive with your hands in front of you and always steer up immediately upon entering the water to avoid hitting the bottom or sides of the pool.

• Don't dive if you have been using alcohol or drugs because your reaction time may be too slow.

• Improper use of pool slides presents the same danger as improper diving techniques. Never slide down head first-slide down feet first only.

Article referenced from About.com