How Safe Is Your Swimming Pool?

Spending hours swimming in a backyard pool is something most children want to do during the hot summer months.  If you have a swimming pool in your backyard, how can you make sure that it remains a place of fun and does not become a safety concern? Why is it an important subject to consider?

It’s a tragic fact that many children die each year due to drowning accidents with those under the age of 5 being at greatest risk.  What makes this such a danger is that a child can drown very fast in very shallow water and without creating any noise, in fact, a child could’ve drowned before anyone becomes aware that they are missing.  Yes, its clear to see how vital safety is when it comes to your backyard pool.

While proper supervision is essential while children are playing in the pool, what about when it is not in use?  This is where pool barriers come in.  They are essential to proper pool safety.  There are a variety of forms of pool barrier such as fencing or a wall which prevents access to the swimming pool when not being used.  Its important that you know the proper guidelines set forth for pool barriers as they must be the correct height, be impossible for a child to crawl underneath and, in the case of fencing, have the correct amount of spacing.

The homes exterior walls can be considered a pool barrier but pay attention to any doors that may lead directly to the pool.  Keep them locked and if possible fit them with an alarm system designed to alert the household to anyone going in or out of those doors.  Its best if the alarm sound is easy to distinguish from any other sound in the house and is very easy to hear even in the furthest away rooms of the home.  In this way, no child can exit without it being noticed.

Similar guidelines should be adhered to with above ground pools and hot tubs etc.  Some kind of barrier should be in place so that no child can access the water unsupervised.

Taking time to check the area surrounding your backyard pool to ensure it is safe, will help you enjoy your pool time this summer.