Water Safety 622-05-25-30-02

(Revised 6/1/22 ML #3677)

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

 

Swimming pools

Swimming pools with a depth of four feet or greater must have:

1. 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.

2. A working pump or filtering system;
3. A life saving device available in the event of an emergency, and
4. Supervision to ensure safety while swimming.

Small wading pools do not require a barrier. The wading pool must be regularly drained. In addition, safety and supervision is required for all water activities.

 

Hot tubs

Hot tubs on the premises must have a safety cover that is locked when not in use.

 

Lake Life/Boating

Foster care providers must follow reasonable and prudent parenting when taking children in foster care to the lake to swim or engaging in recreational water activities.

 

Foster care providers 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, kayak, canoe or on a jet-ski the foster care providers shall provide instruction and rules surrounding the importance of wearing personal flotation devices.