Home Safety
Pool Security and Maintenance
According to The State of Home Safety in America™ report drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury related death and many of these incidents involve swimming pools and spas. The Home Safety Council encourages basic safety precautions to avoid injuries in and around a pool or spa at home:
- Always practice adult supervision around any body of water. Older children should not be left in charge of younger children in the pool area.
- Install four-sided fencing that blocks direct access to the pool from the home. Four-sided pool fencing with self-latching and self-locking gates is proven to be an effective drowning prevention intervention.
- Pool fencing should be at least five feet high and have self locking and self closing gates.
- Position gate latches out of the reach of young children.
- Never prop the gate open or disable the latch.
- Do not leave furniture near the fence that would enable a child to climb over it.
- Clear debris, clutter and pool toys from the pool deck and adjoining pathways to prevent falls
.
- Keep a cordless, water resistant telephone with emergency numbers posted in the pool area.
- Keep poolside rescue equipment close by. Equipment should include a sturdy, lightweight pole measuring at least 10-12 feet and a ring buoy with line. Do not permit children to play with these tools.
- Keep a life vest approved by the U.S. Coast Guard on hand. Poor and inexperienced swimmers should be required to wear a life vest while swimming.
- Use plastic ware instead of glassware in the pool area.
- As a supplemental safety precaution, consider using a pool alarm to alert you if someone falls into the pool. Recent studies show that sub surface pool alarms are most effective. These alarms are not substitutes for adult supervision of children.
- Keep spa and hot tub covers locked when not in use.
- Remove excess water from pool and spa covers.
- Always completely remove pool covers before swimming.
- Chlorine-based pool care products could be explosive and can easily combust if not handled correctly. Always follow manufacturer’s instructions when using pool chemicals and store chemicals in a dry place away from heat sources.
- Lock all pool chemicals in a secure cabinet out of children’s reach.
