Child Pool Safety | 4 Steps to Prevent Drowning

Child pool safety is a priority pool owners need to consider when installing any pool barrier. You can never be too safe. Statistics show on average there are 10 drowning deaths per day. As a pool/hot tub owner, child pool safety is a must regardless of if you have children or not. If you are in a neighborhood with children, there is always the possibility of an accidental drowning. You can never be too safe. When your pool is not in use, a simple pool cover is not enough to ensure child pool safety.

In order to make your pool or hot tub meet child pool safety standards, there are a series of aspects to consider:

• Swimming Pool Safety Fences
  

  One of the more popular choices to enforce child pool safety is the pool safety fence. Available in mesh, glass, wood, or metal, fences provide a barrier between the home and the water. In studies, the risk of drowning was reduced by 83% with a four-sided barrier fence compared to three-sided fencing. More than 50% of drownings among young children could have been prevented with pool security fences in place.

Fences should have self-closing and self-locking latches placed out of the reach of children. Regulations state the latches should be at least 4 feet high. No child should be able to open the latch while standing on the ground.

• Cover/Net
  

  Swimming pool safety covers act as a secondary safeguard if the fence fails. A pool safety net acts as a web that prevents anything from falling into the pool. The net is held in place by hooks surrounding the edges of the pool. If a child were to circumvent the fence, they would simply fall into the net/cover instead of the water.

• Furniture (Be Aware)

  An incredibly important aspect of pool safety is furniture. If you have a deck with a table and chairs, they can easily be used to climb over a fence. Prevent children from using furniture as stepping stools to get to the pool. Homeowners should bolt or chain furniture to the floor or house.

• Education on Child Pool Safety
  

  The number one defense against drowning is education. Teach kids at a young age that water can be dangerous if they’re not careful. Education can keep them safe when you’re not around. Children as young as 2 are learning how to turn themselves over if they happen to fall face-first into the water.

If you integrate these child pool safety tips you are on the way to making your pool a safer area.