Water Safety 622-05-25-30-02

(NEW 10/1/19 ML #3564)

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Foster parents must follow reasonable and prudent parenting when engaging in water sports or activities. Foster parents shall determine the swimming ability of each child prior to water activities. Foster parents may not allow foster children to participate in an aquatic activity without adult supervision.

 

Swimming pools

Swimming pools with a depth of four feet or greater must have a barrier to minimize unsupervised access. The barrier must be equipped with a safety lock. A fenced-in back yard does not meet the barrier requirement. In-ground pools with professionally installed safety covers do meet the barrier standard if locked and cannot be unrolled/opened without supervision. Barrier standards do not apply to a small wading pool, however water safety and supervision is required for all water activities.

 

If the pool is not designed to be regularly drained, it must have a working pump and filtering system. In addition, the pool area must have a life saving device available in the event of an emergency.

 

Hot tubs

Hot tubs on the premises of a foster home for children must have a safety cover that is locked when not in use.

 

Lake Life/Boating

Foster parents must follow reasonable and prudent parenting when taking foster children to the lake to swim or engaging in recreational activities. Foster parents shall require that all children wear personal flotation devices during aquatic activities, such as water skiing, tubing, and rafting. Prior to riding in a boat, the foster parents shall provide instruction on boarding, boat rules and the importance of wearing personal flotation devices.