Pool Party Etiquette
Hosting a pool party is a fun and refreshing way to celebrate gatherings and birthdays in the sun but they do require some planning to make sure everyone has a great time and that the host isn’t lumbered with the stress of managing kids and catering.
Pool Safety Plan
It’s important to lay down the ground rules especially if you have a mix of young and older more boisterous kids. You should discuss with parents how confident their children are in the pool. Some children will be more experienced than others who may not have had a lot of exposure to water or swimming lessons.
No running! Running around a pool is an accident waiting to happen. Wet surfaces become slippery and a fall on hard surfaces can lead to a hospital visit.
No screaming! Screaming kids is the quickest way to ruin a peaceful afternoon poolside plus its guaranteed to drive your neighbours to distraction so make sure the noise levels are kept in check.
No dunking! Dunking is dangerous and will only end in tears.
Adults should supervise their own children - it's an obvious one but often overlooked. If little ones are invited, then make sure there’s a designated adult overseeing the children and if they are very young, there should be an adult in the pool. Accidents can happen very quickly and its easy to be distracted by mobile phones and conversation so be attentive to what’s going on around you.
BYO
If it’s a planned swim, it’s a good idea to ask guests to bring their own towels otherwise you’ll be left with a pile of washing. It’s also super helpful if guests bring their own water, preferably in reusable bottles to minimise having to supply cups around the pool. Glass should never be allowed within the pool fence area as if there’s breakage, the pool will need to be cleared until it’s been completely removed. Shards of glass in the pool is very dangerous and can cause damage to your pool equipment.
Sunscreen is another essential item that guests should pack and there should be strict rules about this being applied 10-15 minutes before entering the pool so it has time to absorb into the skin. Make sure you’re using waterproof sunscreen with a high SPF. The SPF (sun protection number) is an indicator of how long the suns UV radiation would take to redden your skin when using the product exactly as directed versus the amount of time without any sunscreen. So, if you are using SPF50, it will take around 50 times longer to burn than if you weren’t wearing any at all.
Pack snacks - kids are hungry little critters and swimming is the perfect way to burn energy meaning they’re going to be hungry and thirsty after a couple of hours in the pool!
For more info about Pool & Spa Safety, read here - Pool & Spa Safety Rules (poolspalife.com.au)