With recent government reports warning of an obesity epidemic amongst children in the UK the benefits of swimming as a form of enjoyable exercise are clear. However top of the list of priorities is safety. Here's how to keep your children safe in the water.

1) Teach everybody to swim. Under the national curriculum, all children by the age of 11 years should be able to swim 25m unaided, ensuring they have some knowledge of safety in the water.
2) Always supervise children in and around the pool and teach them to keep away from the pool and to only go in when they are told they can.
3) Do not dive into less than 1.5m of water. Mark deep and shallow ends.
4) Ensure your family know what to do in an emergency.
5) Check that safety fences, gates and covers are secure when you leave the pool area.

We have compiled a list of products which should help you to keep your pool safe.