Every parent with a pool knows the importance of pool safety, but pool owners without children often think swimming pool safety does not apply to them. Pool safety is an issue every pool owner absolutely needs to concern themselves with to prevent a tragedy from occurring.
It may be the law. Increasingly, municipalities are setting stricter and stricter requirements for pool safety. San Diego is one such community. The efforts are international as well. Most recently, pool safety regulations have been foremost on French lawmakers’ minds.
Swimming pool safety products span a wide range of items. Some pool owners can use as a bare minimum of protection. Others, used in combination, create a comprehensive child and pool safety defense.
A good place to start is writing down every pool rule. Safety and swimming rules should be accompanied by rules for diving, horseplay, and acceptable swim times (for example, no children under 14 swimming without an adult).
After your child pool safety rules are set, order a pool safety sign or make one yourself. A swimming pool safety sign may seem unnecessary, but it is a good idea to have the backup of your agreed upon pool rules close by at every infraction. Swimming pool safety signs are also a good idea because it is very likely your children will invite friends to enjoy your pool, and a ‘pool safety for kid’ sign helps everyone swim safely.
Children should be involved in setting and promoting pool safety rules. A swimming pool safety video is an ideal tool to get them thinking about safe swimming and in the right frame of mind for making good rule choices. But remember - you have the final say over what rules stay and what rules go. Safety first.
Pool safety is very important for the youngest members of your family, those who cannot rationalize the importance of your rules. Pool safety gates, door and window locks, door/window alarms and pool surface alarms are all very useful, important tools for keeping your pool area safe. Pool safety for baby is especially important if you own an inground pool, and eminently more so if your pool is accessed directly from house doors and windows.
Inground pools require extra vigilance. No skimp in pool alarms, fences, gates, or any other safety feature is worth risking the life of a child. This is where pool safety becomes important for homes without children. Children visiting is inevitable, but you can also not discount that a neighborhood child, or even a pet, might wander into your yard and into or onto your pool.
Inground pools are dangerous in the off season, too. Often, children (and sometimes adults) mistake covered pools for solid ground. The average winter pool cover will not keep a child from sinking into the water below if they walk on it. Even if pool water does not infiltrate the cover, collected water atop the cover is enough to drown a trapped child. A better option is to replace the winter cover or add an additional safety cover to an inground pool. Safety and cleaning instructions will be provided with pool safety covers. You will note the added advantage of making spring cleanup easier with mesh safety pool covers.
Pool alarms are not to be discounted as effective pool safety tools. There
