Paddling pools can be fun for children but can also pose a safety risk, so parents have been warned to always remove any water and then turn the pool upside down when swimming time is over
Temperatures are continuing to soar this weekend and Sunday is expected to be another hot day after the mercury reached 32.2C in England yesterday.
As Brits get ready to face another hot day, many are looking for ways to keep cool in their gardens – and paddling pools are a popular option, especially for children.
But while these small pools can be fun for kids to splash around, there is one thing parents should always keep in mind to ensure safety after the children have finished playing.
Lee Heard, Charity Director at Royal Lifesaving Society UK (RLSS), said that paddling pools should be emptied as soon as swimming time is over so that any water, for example from rain, cannot collate.
Once emptied, he said that the pool should be turned upside down, adding: “This means that water, from a rain shower for example, cannot collate in the paddling pool if it is left upright and become a potential hazard.”
Another reason why pools should be emptied is the risk of bacteria and stagnant water.
Mr Heart has also warned of the risks of living children unsupervised. He explained that parents should never leave their children alone while in a paddling pool as the risk of drowning is high, and it can happen very quickly.
He told The Sun: “Sadly drowning can happen very quickly, so it’s vital to ensure that you do not leave your child alone when they are in or near water.
“In order to ensure your child’s safety when they are in or around water, never leave them unsupervised.”
Mr Heard said that 26 children aged 14 and under lost their life to accidental drowning in the UK in 2022.
He explained: “We want to ensure that no more families have to experience the sudden and devastating loss to drowning.”
Mr Heard said the RLSS will be running their annual Drowning Prevention Week campaign for a week, from June 17 to June 24, to raise awareness of the risk of drowning and the importance of water safety for children.
Children can drown in the smallest depth of water, so safety experts say they should never be left alone, even for a very short time.
If parents need to leave their kids to get something or to answer the front door or the phone, they should ensure kids are out of the water in the meantime.
Last year, a woman warned fellow dog owners of the dangers of baby paddling pools following the sudden death of her puppy.
Winter the 18-month-old border collie had a “freak accident” in June 2022 while playing in the garden.
The sweet dog was splashing about in four inches of water for less than an hour, and suffered accidental water intoxication then passed away that day.
Owner Jessie Weninger, 30, from Canada, US, decided to honour her best friend’s life by raising awareness of the rare condition ahead of the hot summer months.
