Backyard barbecues, birthday pool parties, or just a lazy summer afternoon…family pools are a lot of fun…but they’re also a lot of responsibility.
Not only do you need to keep your own family safe, you need to consider the safety of others who may obtain access to your pool.
Following are 5 recommended pool safety tips…which ones do you need?
1. Barriers
One of the most effective ways to prevent accidents is to secure your pool with barriers such as a fence. In fact, many towns have adopted ordinances that require pools – both in and above ground – to be enclosed with a fence.
Experts recommend that the fence be at least 4 feet high, with a child-resistance gate that is both self-closing and self-latching.
2. Alarms
There are several types of alarms you can use to alert people that someone is either in the pool or in the area surrounding it. While one alarm should do the trick, redundancy can be a good thing, so obtaining both a body and pool or gate alarm is a good idea.
Types of alarms:
Perimeter alarms
Also known as an “invisible fence”, lasers are positioned around the pool to set up a perimeter that, when breached, sounds an alarm.
Pressure sensitive alarms
This type of alarm sits on the edge of the pool. A sensor tube that’s connected to the alarm is placed in the water. Any movement in the water by someone or something that weighs 18 pounds or more will set off the alarm that sounds a lot like a loud car alarm.
Gate alarms
Gate alarms are devices that set up a magnetic field between the gate and the fence itself. When the field is broken by someone opening the gate, the alarm will sound alerting you that someone has entered the pool area.
This kind of alarm also works on doors, making it a good choice to put on any door(s) that lead outside…perfect for homes with young children.
Wearable alarms
There are a number of wearable alarms available for kids that include both GPS and water safety functions. Made to be used under adult supervision, one popular kind of alarm will quickly alert you if your child’s wrist is immersed in water. This works well for those times that you’re near, but not in the water itself, such as the beach or at a lake.
3. Pool covers
There are different types of pool covers, but the best, more affordable type of pool cover to keep kids safe is a safety pool cover:
- ⬥pool cover – a generic cover that just keeps debris out of your pool
- ⬥winter covers – intended to stay on for the winter months so may be hard to put on and take off (and isn’t meant to support weight)
- ⬥safety pool covers – made to protect the pool and provide a trampoline like effect when walked on by pets and small children
- ⬥solar pool covers – traps the sun’s heat and lowers your heating costs
- ⬥platform pool cover – acts as a pool cover and is designed to be walked on to allow your pool to be used for extra walking space
4. Designated watcher
There is really no substitute for an adult or responsible older child to watch kids as they play in the water. Set hard and fast rules such as nobody swims alone, no diving, stay away from drain covers and walking only to help keep kids safe.
5. Safety equipment and knowledge
In addition to swimming lessons and lessons on water safety, use water safety equipment to help everyone have a fun and safe time.
Equipment to use and have on hand include:
- ⬥Life jackets for young or inexperienced swimmers
- ⬥One or more life savers with ropes
- ⬥Shepard’s hook – a metal loop that’s tied to the end of your pool cleaning pole that can be used to pull someone to safety
- ⬥CPR training for adults
Finally, keeping your water clean and clear, with the right amount of chemical levels, filtration and circulation will minimize the risk of rashes, earaches or disease.
