Keeping kids safe in the summer season is a task to be taken seriously. There are a lot of hazards in Saint Petersburg and beyond, but many of those can be found in your own backyard. The biggest offender, without question, is the pool. Whether in-ground or above-ground, permanent or a temporary variety, the pool presents a big risk for families with young children. There are even dangers lurking within a well-cleaned pool.
The warmth of the Florida sun has been encouraging the start of the busy season for many families in the area. Parties, showers, picnics, weddings, and other such celebrations are lining up on calendars throughout America, in fact, and that means a lot of time spent with small children in tow.
While most consider the horrors of children drowning, there are other worries that should be addressed when caring for a pool. Among those is the use of cleaning chemicals. Kids make a habit of mimicking their parents’ actions. While that can be adorable in some settings, when it comes to making use of toxic pool cleaners, parents want children to stay away. It is important to understand the dangers that reside in chlorine tablets or pool shock granules.
Pool chemicals can ruin clothing after a very short exposure time, so just imagine what they can do to a person’s skin. Direct contact is certainly the biggest concern, but even allowing children to swim shortly after treating a pool can represent a terrifying risk.
More and more studies are being done every year and time after time, there is concern regarding the damage done when swimming in highly chlorinated pools. The lungs, skin, and eyes can be directly impacted after just half an hour in the water. Worse yet, the toxins can find their way into the bloodstream.
It is very important to keep the chemicals used to treat pool water at the proper levels and those levels should be checked and re-checked often. If pool water becomes dirty for any reason (leaves, trash, etc.), additional chemicals should not be added to try to “clean” up the situation. Full and total cleaning of the pool water may be called for. In Florida, many pools have screened enclosures. This can help keep out leaves, trash, mosquitoes, and even alligators. Some say they can also protect against hurricanes, which can run rampant in Florida.
Storage of chemicals, as well, can pose safety concerns with regard to children, or anyone, accidentally coming into contact with them. Safe storage of chemicals in St. Petersburg is a matter that should be diligently attended to so as to avoid accidental poisonings. Florida is known as the “Sunshine State” and, therefore, many people take to the water every day. The location where chemicals are stored should also be cool and dry; otherwise, there is a risk of contaminating the nearby environment and/or the risk of fire.
Prolonged exposure to chlorine can be dangerous and while we are not fully aware of the impacts, parents should weigh the risks and rewards to determine what is best for their children. If your kid is harmed by pool products at a public pool or because of poorly designed dispensers, speak to a personal injury attorney regarding your right to collect monetary damages to cover medical expenses.