Does anyone know the actual age it is OK to leave older children unattended in the pool for a short period of time? American Red Cross uses the term children, but does not clarify the age. My two youngest are 6 1/2 & 9 1/2 this summer. They are both extremely strong swimmers. Last summer I watched them constantly and pulled them out anytime I had to leave the side of the pool, which I felt was overboard as they've been swimming since the age of 2. For instance, do I still have to get them out of the pool if I use the restroom or turn the laundry over? Common sense and mother's intuition tells me it's OK this summer to be away for a moment.
You have to weigh the consequences. I did leave them for a moment and was lucky enough to have nothing happen. But, no matter how strong of a swimmer someone is, if they hit their head, they will pass out and drown.
If you really have to step away you can make them sit on the steps or the edge of the pool till you get back. I believe no one should ever swim alone at any age but I do let my son (12) swim with his friends without my constant supervision. They know that if anything should happen that they are to alert me immediately. Not to mention the screaming would do it in itself. I do not allow screaming as part of play in a pool nor are they allowed to run around the pool. I also go back and forth to the window to make sure they are ok.
As said in other posts....you need to know your child's ability to handle an emergency situation.
Hi Jennifer, I err on the side of better be safe than sorry. I have a 8.5 and 5.5 yo who have been swimming since ages 2 and 1. In fact, just 4 weeks ago my boyfriend and I rented a house with a pool and we paid $1600 to have it fenced in for our own peace of mind and safety for the kids. I still sit out with them and watch them every minute. If I have to go to the bathroom, they get out and sit on the patio and I lock the pool fence until I come back out. Answering the phone or doing laundry can wait. What if one of them hits their head or something, it takes a only minute for a child to drown. I would never ever leave my kids in the pool alone for one second. I could never live with myself if something happend because I had to go in and switch the laundry. Same thing for the parents that don't put seat belts on the kids because they are just running over to the store. What, they think someone can't hit them head on or something? It's ridiculous. Be smart about this. Don't put them at risk.
A moment maybe,,,,,they are still kids, mine are 9,13.15. I still won't leave them. They could crack their head on the side of the pool, go unconscious, drown.... You are taking chances. Make them sit in a chair in the shade while you are going to the bathroom. I do NOT believe in leaving kids in water unattended. You are taking chances with their lives.
A. R
That's what all the parents say who loose their kids to drownings....I just left them alone for a minute......a minute too late.
i could never live if something happened , so why take that chance, why risk it?
Hi Jennifer,
As a former EMT/ER Tech and the wife of a Firefighter I would say that your children are too young to leave unattended in a pool for even "just a few seconds". No matter how well you think they swim, accidents can happen and in a pool they may be fatal. Imagine this....they are playing around in the pool and one of them hits their head and goes under water, the other one jumps in to try to save them and they both end up under water. You come out and find them at the bottom of the pool. Is that worth what ever you neeeded/wanted to do?
This is a true scenario. My husband I have both seen the faces of the parents who never thought this would happen to them. It's just not worth the risk. My children are 6 & 10 and they are both very intellegent and good swimmers, but they are too young physically and mentally to be left alone in a pool because they are just children. I hope this helps you make your decision.
My boys are 16 and 13 and I just started letting them be in the pool for a moment to run in the house (bathroom or refill my water). Let me tell you my boys also took CPR and were always in swimming lessons before I allowed this and if they are not swimming together I will not leave them alone. That is a risk not worth taking. I believe your children are too young to be left alone even for a second.
I always asked myself the same question for pool safety as I did for babysitting: If there was an emergency, would my children individually be able to handle it? For example, if one of your kids fell into the pool and hit their head, would the other one know what to do and be able to help? Or for leaving them home alone, if the house caught on fire, would they know what to do without panicking? You can see that age isn't the indicator, it is maturity in the face of emergency.
Well said Liisa G., I agree 100%.
Hi, if you find out would you tell me too? As we have two grandchildren that I know are too young at this time. They are six and seven. I would like to know for the future they both swim like fishes. There is a lot of times you see these really good questions on here but don't always see the answers. Thank You, N. P.
