WORCESTER, Mass., July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year more than 600 people
drown in swimming pools, with half of the tragedies occurring in the backyards
of single-family homes.
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To help reduce the risk of pool-related injuries and deaths, The Hanover
Insurance Group (NYSE: THG), a leading super regional property and casualty
company, recommends homeowners take some simple precautionary steps.
"Most accidents occur when children wander into an unsecured pool area or
are not properly supervised by adults responsible for their safety," said Jim
Hyatt, president of The Hanover's personal lines business. "Supervision,
combined with a variety of other precautions, is the key toward preventing
serious injuries and even death. The Hanover encourages you to reduce the risk
of accidents that could have a devastating impact on you, your family and
others."
Below are some pool safety tips that every family should follow:
Establish Family Rules:
* Children should never be left unattended, even for a minute, in or near
the water or a pool area for any reason. Seventy-seven percent of
drowning victims were out of sight for less than five minutes
* Outline the importance of pool safety for babysitters and other
guardians
* Teach your children to swim and encourage them to wear protective
floatation devices. However, never rely solely on floatation devices or
swimming lessons to protect you child
* No one should swim in the pool alone
* Don't allow running, diving, pushing or dunking in your pool
* Don't allow glass or other sharp, breakable items in the pool area
* At least one adult supervisor in the pool area should know CPR
* Collect all toys from the pool so that children don't wander after them
* Keep children away from the filter inlet, which can be hazardous to
young children by drawing them underwater
* Alcohol and swimming don't mix. Never allow adults who have been
drinking into the pool area
* Evacuate the pool in the rain or an electrical storm
* If a child is missing, always look in the pool immediately
* Keep a telephone in the pool area and post 9-1-1 and other emergency
numbers nearby
Establish Physical Security:
* Install fencing to keep people out of the pool area without your
knowledge. Most communities require fencing at least four feet high
around all sides of a pool. Determine specific regulations for your
area
* Gate latches should be self-closing and self-locking and on the side
facing the pool, inaccessible to reaching small hands
* Ladders or steps leading up to above-ground pools should be removed or
securely locked when the pool area is unattended
* Lock and/or install alarms on household doors leading to a pool area
* Don't assume inflatable or other shallow children's pools are safe.
Always supervise children using such pools and drain the water from
them before leaving the pool area
* Use safety covers. Remember they must withstand the weight of two adults
and a child, and of course must be closed when adult supervision is not
available
* Remove vegetation, tables, chairs and toys that children can move next
to a fence to climb into a pool area
About The HanoverThe Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: THG), based in Worcester, Mass.,
is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover
Insurance Company, also based in Worcester; Citizens Insurance Company of
America, headquartered in Howell, Mich., and their affiliates. The Hanover
offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to
individuals, families and businesses through an extensive network of
independent agents, and has been meeting its obligations to its agent partners
and their customers for more than 150 years. Taken as a group, The Hanover
ranks among the top 35 of more than 950 property and casualty insurers in the
United States.
SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group