A backyard pool party is a quintessential part of a Zimbabwean summer—a chance to beat the heat, celebrate, and create lasting memories with family and friends. However, these joyful gatherings can turn tragic in a matter of seconds. Drowning is a silent, swift, and preventable crisis. In Zimbabwe, drowning claims hundreds of lives each year, with an age-adjusted death rate of 6.69 per 100,000 people, ranking the country 14th highest globally. Recent local reports are equally alarming, with at least 29 people drowning nationwide in just a three-month period in 2024.
For hosts, especially those with children or guests who don’t have pools at home, proactive safety planning is not just thoughtful—it’s lifesaving. This article outlines essential safety measures for any pool event and champions a powerful, proactive solution: ensuring the majority of people around you have the foundational skill of swimming.
The Stark Reality: Drowning in Zimbabwe
The statistics are a sobering reminder that water, while a source of fun, demands respect. The World Health Organization data highlights Zimbabwe’s disproportionately high drowning rate. Many of these incidents are not dramatic scenes at sea but quiet tragedies in domestic pools, rivers, and dams during recreational activities. Children are particularly vulnerable. These facts underscore that pool safety is a critical community issue, not just a private concern.
Essential Pool Safety Tips for Every Host
A safe pool party is a planned one. Relying on luck or assuming “someone is watching” is not enough. Here are key layers of protection every host must implement:
1. Create Physical Barriers: A four-sided fence with a self-latching gate around the pool is the first and most effective layer of defense, preventing unsupervised access, especially by young children.
2. Assign a Dedicated “Water Watcher”: At a party, distraction is everywhere. Designate a sober, responsible adult to do nothing but watch the water for 15–30 minute shifts. Drowning is often silent, so this watcher must have an unobstructed view and no phone in hand.
3. Set and Enforce Clear Rules: Before anyone enters the water, brief all guests—especially children—on the rules: no running, no pushing, no diving in shallow ends, and no swimming alone.
4. Conduct a Simple Swim Test: For guests, particularly children, a quick swim test can identify non-swimmers. Clearly mark deep and shallow areas and insist that weak or non-swimmers stay in the shallow end with a parent within arm’s reach at all times.
5. Provide Proper Life Jackets: “Water wings” or pool noodles are toys, not safety devices. Have several U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets on hand for non-swimming guests.
6. Be Prepared for Emergencies: Ensure at least one person at the party knows CPR. The minutes before professional help arrives are critical. Keep a first-aid kit and a phone nearby.
7. Manage Alcohol Responsibly: Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, and coordination. Encourage guests to drink responsibly and insist that your designated water watchers abstain completely.
The Lifesaving Skill: Making Swim Lessons a Community Priority
While supervision and rules are vital, they are reactive. The most powerful, proactive step we can take is to promote swimming as an essential life skill. The goal should be to ensure that the majority of people at your gathering—both children and adults—have basic swimming competency.
In Zimbabwe, access to quality, affordable swim lessons is growing, demystifying the notion that swimming is only for the privileged. Prominent local initiatives include:
- The Kirsty Coventry Academy: Founded by Zimbabwe’s most decorated Olympian, this academy is on a mission to spread swimming across Africa. It offers affordable lessons for all ages and abilities, with water safety and drowning prevention principles built into every course.
- Local Swim Schools: Established programs like Aquakidz, which has been teaching children in Zimbabwe since 2000, provide accessible pathways for kids to become confident, capable swimmers.
As a host, you can be a catalyst for change. When inviting guests—especially those who don’t have home pools and may have had limited exposure to water—gently encourage them to explore these lessons. Frame it as a gift of lifelong safety and confidence for their entire family.
Special Considerations for Kids and Guests without Home Pools
These groups require extra attention:
- Children: Assume that every child needs active, undistracted supervision. Use the “touch supervision” rule for young or non-swimming children: an adult must be in the water, within arm’s reach, at all times.
- Guests Unfamiliar with Pools: A guest who doesn’t own a pool may be unfamiliar with pool layouts, depths, and hidden risks like slippery decks. Take a moment to give them a brief orientation. Your proactive offer of a life jacket and clear guidance on where it is safe to stand can prevent panic and accidents.
Conclusion: A Ripple Effect of Safety
A pool party should leave us with happy memories, not heartbreaking ones. By combining vigilant, layered safety measures during the event with a community-wide commitment to swim education, we can dramatically reduce the risk of drowning in Zimbabwe. Let’s shift the culture from one of fear to one of empowered safety. Encourage the people in your life to learn to swim. It’s more than a sport; it’s a fundamental skill that empowers individuals to save themselves and enjoy our beautiful waterways safely. This summer, let’s make a splash with fun, not tragedy.
