Creating a Safe Pool Environment: Tips for Childproofing and Pool Safety

Pool Safety is Crucial

A backyard pool is a wonderful asset, a place to have fun and relax with family and friends. If you have a pool in your backyard, though, safety needs to be your top priority. Between 2020 and 2022, there were about 6,300 nonfatal drowning injuries in the United States each year, and 76 percent of these involved children younger than five years of age. For that age group, there were 279 fatal drownings reported, and 80 percent of these tragedies occurred in residential pools or spas. It is clear that water safety is vital to protect our little ones, and as a pool owner, you can take steps to create a safe pool environment at your home. Here, we offer some tips to help you make your pool a place for fun, relaxation, and safety.

Tips For a Safe Pool Environment

• Put in a fence. This is required in most places. Even if you have a fence around your backyard, it’s wise to have a second fence around the pool, to prevent children from falling into the water. For a swimming pool fence to be child-proof, it must be at least four feet tall and not climbable, with a self-latching, self-closing gate, and a lockable latch that’s out of reach for children. Keep the gate closed even when there are no children around, and you’ll be in the habit of keeping it closed when there is a child at your house.
• Use an alarm system. By installing a pool alarm on doors, windows, or gates that give access to the pool, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you’d know if a child was near the pool.
• Make and enforce rules. Put certain rules in place to make your pool environment safe, and make sure anyone who uses your pool understands them. Good pool safety rules include:
  • Do not run near the pool.
  • Never swim alone or, for children, without adult supervision.
  • Only dive in the deep end.
  • No glass around the pool.
  • Stay away from the pool drains.
• Create a safe environment around the pool. Some of the rules mentioned are important for keeping the area safe, like keeping glass away from the pool deck. You should also make sure your pool deck surface is non-slip, store all chemicals away from the pool in a locked, child-proof storage area. Have flotation devices and a first aid kit nearby.
• Teach kids to swim. Free or low-cost swimming lessons are often offered by community centers or the local YMCA. It is worth teaching your child to swim early because research indicates that formal swimming lessons can protect children between the ages of one and four years old from drowning. By the time a child is four years old, swimming lessons and water safety training are imperative.
• Always be watching. Never leave children unsupervised, and always have a responsible adult designated as the water watcher. The designated person must:
  • Stay focused, without being distracted by a phone, book, or other adults.
  • Pay special attention to new swimmers or non-swimmers.
  • Know what to do in an emergency.
  • Have a phone nearby.
  • Remain sober.
  • Stay by the pool until replaced by another watcher.
  • Check the water first if a child is out of the line of sight.
• Don’t trust in toys. Floaties, water wings, noodles, and inner tubes are not safety devices. Do not count on them to keep swimmers safe in the water.
• Learn CPR. Despite your best efforts, accidents can happen. Taking a CPR class ensures that you will know what to do in an emergency when someone needs your help.

Your Partner for Pools and Safety in Dartmouth, MA

When you’re ready to own a pool or you need a safety cover to make your pool more secure, call Aaron Pools and Spas. Established in 1972, this family-owned-and-operated business has a dedicated, award-winning team with over 400 years of combined experience. We love to help improve the quality time that families spend together at home, and that’s why we’ve installed more than 2,000 swimming pools and hot tubs, from Cape Cod to Connecticut. For the best possible service from our highly experienced installation team, call 508.996.3320 or contact us today.