Summer Pool Safety: Staying cool and staying safe!

Each summer, SickKids sees an increase in the number of water-related injuries as temperatures rise. Trying to stay cool during heat waves drives many children and families to partake in water-based activities and backyard pools. While pools are a great way to cool down and stay active in the summer heat, over 48 per cent of water-related injuries treated at SickKids occur in swimming pools.

Common injuries that occur in pools include drownings, head and neck injuries from diving or jumping into the pool and slips/falls on the pool deck. These three types of injuries alone resulted in 58 per cent of water-injury related hospital admissions from SickKids' ED from 2019 to 2023.

Staying safe in and around pools includes monitoring children's behaviour, modifying the environment and always providing adequate supervision. These actions can work to prevent serious and potentially life-threatening injuries this summer.

Takinga fewminutes to review pool safety rules with your children before they swim can help to remind them of the importance of swimming safely this summer!