Here's a pool safety tip for you.
Why does a child drown in a residential pool surrounded by 20 adults? People in a group setting often suffer from role "confusion" and "diffusion", giving them a false sense of security about the situation. Individuals respond well when they are appointed a responsibility, and clearly understand their role.
We advocate the "pass off" system. This works well whether at the park or the pool - with 2 people or 10 people. Someone in the group initiates the "pass off" - "You have Tommy watch for the next 60 minutes". The "watch" person understands the rules - they do not use the rest room, answer their cell phone, or go to the concession stand, while they are on watch. Depending on the situation.......at a minimum, this means the child is in their visual site at all time. When they need to be relieved, they clearly "pass off" the responsibility to someone else - "you are now on Tommy watch for the next hour".
When in a group, there might not always be one adult per child, so think about the "pass off" system for the high-risk child - the one who just learned how to swim, the special needs child, the one who likes to push his limits, etc. This works equally well for parents of two children at the pool - assign one parent to each child and then switch off.
Remember, the lifeguard is watching all 40 people in the pool. It is your responsibility to be sure your child is safe.
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