Best Ways Swim Instructors Can Help Prevent Slipping Around the Pool

You’re enjoying some rare free-time before you teach your swim lesson. Suddenly, you hear a commotion complete with the start of a child's tears, and you look up to see one of your students crying over a freshly skinned knee on the pool deck. With swim season comes the risk of slipping, falling, and potential injuries around the pool. How can you as an instructor help prevent slipping and tears?

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There are several things you can do to prevent slipping near pools, including keeping the deck as dry as possible, encouraging people (especially kids) to move around the deck cautiously, and prohibiting pushing or hands-on play. Make sure you have basic rules posted where people can easily see and read them.

Wiping Down the Pool Deck

By taking care to wipe down pool decks periodically, the collection of extra water is discouraged, which means surfaces retain more traction for bare feet. If possible, equip your pool with locker room mats, especially around the edges. These synthetic pads are made to have water roll off them and can be extra cushioning.

Best Ways Swim Instructors Can Help Prevent Slipping Around the Pool

Walking Feet

Slow movement around the deck means more time for feet to grip the deck’s surface and to distribute weight evenly, as opposed to running. Often, the challenge isn’t about understanding how to prevent slipping, but about enforcing the rules that promote safety. Kids often get excited around pools because of the fun environment and are tempted to move quickly, running instead of walking around the pool deck. Earning points for walking instead of running is a form of positive praise that allows kids to feel good about good behavior as opposed to poorly for poor behavior. The change seems small, but it goes a long way.

Hands to Yourself

Less hands-on help from others means only having to keep track of one’s own balance, unaffected by unexpected pressure or pulling. As a merit system, children who keep hands to themselves can earn points rather than exclusively earning time-outs for pushing or pulling on others.

Keep Them Busy

Hosting activities to keep kids entertained is another way to help them stay engaged and away from running, pushing, and pulling. Diving contests, swimming races, and synchronized swimming routines are all great alternatives to waiting for chaos to ensue around the edge of the pool.

A day at the pool, whether for work or play, should be about educational recreation, not injuries. Promoting safety habits like keeping the pool deck as dry as possible, walking versus running, and keeping hands to oneself can mean the difference between a pleasant environment and a hostile one.

Enjoy     
Richard