Nearly 300 children under the age of five drown in home swimming pools every year, making it the leading cause of accidental death for that age group. And 87 percent of those drownings happen in backyard pools. In addition to fatalities, more than 4,000 kids under 5 suffer non-fatal drowning injuries that require a visit to the E.R.
Let’s all agree: Safety is one of the most important factors to consider when building your dream pool. You want this investment in time and money to bring you a lifetime of refreshing, fun enjoyment for family and friends, but that’s not possible if someone gets hurt wadding around in the water.
If you’re reading this, you might be planning to install a swimming pool in your backyard. You’ll find plenty of advice about how to do that, but there’s little information about what to expect when your installation wraps up, and the fun can begin. This guide will help you prepare for the post-installation phase so that you can enjoy everything this exciting addition has to offer.
Table of Contents
Install pool barriers
A sound barrier system will deny pool access to a young child left unsupervised. This is why it is crucial to include barriers and safety features such as fences, gates, power pool covers, and alarms. Barrier-preventable drownings often occur when children wander into a backyard unnoticed or climb over a wall or fence that otherwise may have provided protection.
According to the U.S.U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are some guidelines for you. These are listed below;
- Consider fencing the pool area, and make sure that it is approx 4 feet high.
- Consider installing door alarms on all doors leading to the pool area.
- Don’t have a pet door because the children can crawl through these doors.
- Install an underwater alarm for emergency
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nti-entrapment safety drain covers
It’s one of the most common pool safety concerns, child entrapment. These drains can be powerful and robust, and if they’re not being used properly, they could easily trap an unsuspecting child. To avoid this, a pool owner must install anti-entrapment safety drain covers to keep children and other objects from getting tangled.
Supervise children closely
We recommend you supervise children closely. One of the most important pool safety guidelines is never to leave a child unattended around your pool or hot tub (or any other body of water). Stay within the arm’s reach of young children and non-swimmers. Even when you’re not out by the pool, if a child is missing, look for the child in the pool first, including neighbors’ pools. When it comes to preventing drowning, every second counts.
Learn to swim
Everyone in your home should know how to swim. Children should begin taking swimming lessons as young as ages 4 to 6 and continue lessons each year until they have achieved the level of proficiency they need to be safe around water.
Institute pool rules
The pool rules include staying clear of the water without an adult present. Children should not push, run or dive. If they notice someone in trouble, they should assume a lifesaving position. It is best to install pool safety signs at the pool site for the outsiders and the family.
