Steps to avoid accidents in swimming pools and secure your pool
Pool security, it’s not only two words inherent to the pool. These words are the part that stands behind life or death when you have a pool, whether it is an in-ground or above ground pool. Have you made the pool safe for playing, splashing, jumping, and swimming?
A pool is a place of fun where you should follow specific safety rules and regulations. So before opening your pool during the peak swimming time, make a pool safety equipment list. This list will help you to set all the safety stuff serially and accurately.
Before going to the safety measure, check some statistical data on drowning.
- In 2006, 283 children below the age of five drowned in swimming pools in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 people in America drown per day.
- WHO reported that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death, and 372,000 people drowned annually globally.
- More than 3,400 people and almost 5,000 people visited emergency units in the USA to inhale pool chemical fumes or dust or enter chemicals into the eyes.
- For the past twenty years, a sharp increase in the number of RWI outbreaks in the United States. According to the CDC, it is growing from over 3000 cases in 2004 to almost 11,000 by 20008. In 2010, for serious code violations like improper chlorine level, one in eight public pool inspections resulted in the pool’s immediate closing.
- About one in five people who die from drowning are children age 14 and younger. For each child who dies from drowning, another five take the emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
Steps to make your pool secure:
Pool fence: A pool without any fence is extra work for you to monitor someone or prevent any unusual incidents. A fence is a safety barrier for kids and infants. To build a fence, you should follow the local rules and regulations regarding fences. It will help you to maintain a secure pool for all members.
Some general rules for great pool protection.
- A fence should be a minimum of 5 feet in height.
- It should be at least 1 meter from the water edge but not the pool edge.
- A fence must have a self-closing gate.
- It doesn’t have any pet opening gate.
- A door alarm should be attached to the fence.
- It must be non-climbable, especially for children aged 0 to 5 years.
- The opening of the gate should be 54 inches above the ground.
Pool cover:
A pool owner should maintain a safety pool cover to prevent drowning or other accidental injuries. Pool cover plays a vital role in pool security and makes pool maintenance easier too. They are found in mesh and vinyl material. However, it should meet the safety standard of ASTM F134691 regulations.
You can choose the automatic or manual pool cover among the different covers available in the market. Manual pool cover stretches the pool securely by the spring and anchors on the deck. Consulting with a professional pool cover company will help make the right decision for a perfect pool cover.
Nowadays, the automatic pool cover is the best way to keep the pool secured for your kids or pets. Undoubtedly, it is worth the investment of the pool owner. The automatic pool cover is easy to use; open or close with a button’s push. You can contact a professional to install it properly. This cover keeps heat and prevents the evaporation of water and other chemicals.
The pool cover will save the kids, pets, or even adults from sudden slipping and falling in the pool for sure. For the above ground pool, specially designed pool covers are available.
Pool net:
A pool net is a great alternative to a pool cover or fence when the pool owner wants a low-cost barrier. It facilitates the drowning prevention of your loving one. It is portable, and installation is straightforward.
A pool net is pretty strong to hold children or pets that are tumbling in it. This net covers the pool perimeter by anchors around the pool that make it more sturdy and secured. It is generally made of synthetic material polyethylene and can hold weight around 485 pounds. Though, it is unable to save the pool from the dirtiness as a pool cover.
Pool alarm:
The pool alarm makes a sound if your child or anyone gets close to the pool. It is a remote sounding system that you can hear when you are inside the home. But choose the alarm sound that is distinctive from other sounds generally used at home. Many pool alarms are available with different features, and you can pick a suitable one to enhance safety.
Door or gate Alarms:
This alarm is set with the pool gate or door that alerts whenever someone tries to enter your pool. If your child tends to swim in the pool without adult supervision, you can easily detect them.
Wall-mounted alarm: pool owner can attach this alarm to a wall, hedge, or fence. It makes a sound if children or pets get close to the pool. The upgraded one can identify underwater movement also.
Floating Alarm:
The floating alarm is ideal for above ground pools, especially. This alarm can perform while swimming in the water. The alarm will sound if anyone near the pool water and this device is portable.
Wristband pool alarm:
it is the easiest option to take care of your kids and protect them from the pool. Put your wristband in hand, and when they get wet, it will make an alarm sound.
Above ground pool alarm:
Nowadays, the pool alarm for the above ground pool is available with reliable features. You can choose the pool eye and pool guard designed alarm for above ground pool. This alarm is perfect for kids or pets, weighing at least 18 pounds. Whenever someone falls in the water, it will alert you immediately. These are designed for remote alarm sounds and can be placed inside the home. Both types of alarm will perform with a 9-v battery.
These two types of alarm comply with ASTM F2208-08 standards and California and New York pool safety codes.
Maintain the pool drain cover:
According to the Virginia Graeme Baker act, all public pools should have anti-entrapment drain cover and other safety devices. Are you serious about the pool drain cover and different safety rules? A faulty drain cover makes a person trapped for the suction power of underwater circulation. If a pool drain cover isn’t compliant with the VGB rules, an entrapment mishap can occur easily.
Before splashing in the pool with family members or friends, make sure that the pool drain is well covered, clean, VCB approved, and not damaged. Long hair with no bath cap or heavy jewelry, or extra cloth can be caught in the uncovered drain. Though residential pools do not fall within this law, it will make your pool much better secured. Parents always try to make a safe environment for the little members, which is for your kid’s safety.
Pool chlorine safety
Pool owners consider pool fence, alarm, and cover when it comes to pool security, right? What about the pool chlorine safety? It is a pressing issue to make your pool safe for swimming. Chlorine is used in the pool to kill the parasites, bacteria, and algae that are harmful to human beings.
So the pool owner must maintain the chlorine and pH level by testing 1 or 2 times per week. Over-chlorinated water leads the swimmer to sickness, and it is a higher risk for children. A long time swimming at a high level of chlorine water can cause eye, skin irritation, and RWI.
When you’re planning to swim, make your pool water safe by monitoring the chlorine and pH level.
Safety equipment
A swimming pool is where you will get many things together: fun, exercise, leisure time, and so on. Isn’t it necessary to ensure the safety of the pool? Yes, a safety pool can save the life of your loving one and your pets.
There are varieties of safety equipment you will find to place in the pool to enhance security.
For an above ground pool, an interior ladder or stair is very important for protection. A pool safety rope, floating suit, or life jacket can be used for emergency needs. This equipment can inhibit drowning and other injuries. For your child, you can place a floating ring during swimming. It leaves you less stressed, and the kids can swim more confidently.
The responsibilities of a pool owner:
Adult supervision
Any rules, equipment, or device couldn’t replace intelligent supervision to prevent drowning. Parent supervision is the most effective step to avoid any tragedy when you have a pool in the backyard for your child. Whenever your child or younger family member or an adult is not a good swimmer, keep an eye closely on them.
Any accidents in the pool take a few seconds. Monitoring is necessary to prevent the accident. If you are extremely tired or unconscious from taking alcohol or any sedative, please keep off from the responsibility and ask someone capable.
Learn to swim
To avoid accidental deaths from drowning, being able to swim is an imperative skill for all. Most USA state housing have pools in the backyard. So learning to swim for kids and adults helps to keep safe themselves.
Parents should train their children swimming independently. But you should keep kids away from the deeper area of the pool.
An adult person should know how to swim; moreover, it is a life-saving skill.
First aid kits and learn CPR.
A first aid kit helps you to keep safe from a severe injury and delay complications. If anyone can slip or fall from the ladder can cause a broken bone, cut, bruises, or head injury. Even the chemicals used for water purifying, killing algae, and over-chlorinated water can cause human injury. At that time, your first aid kits will help relieve pain or work as primary treatment before going to the hospital. So keep other pool safety equipment, store first aid kits for emergency needs.
Besides this, a pool owner must know how to perform CPR. Allow your kids with a person who knows about CPR. The parents should attend the first aid course and CPD class to prohibit unfortunate drowning.
Remove the floating toy.
After taking a bath in the pool, you should remove all floating toys and inflatable stuff back to the earlier place for safety. When putting a cover on the pool, it looks like a solid surface; a toddler tries to reach there to catch these toys. Finally, they are trapped and injured. So before leaving your pool, collect the toys and place them far from the pool.
Store chemicals out of reach children
Chemicals used for water purification and pool cleaning are highly risky for kids and adults. If the kids take this in a small amount, it can lead to a severe health problem. Mixing the chemicals and applying them in the pools without the right personal protective equipment is not safe.
So try to maintain proper rules to use and keep these products in closed areas out of reach for kids and pets. Otherwise, improper storing of the chemicals will make a scenario you never think of.
Final Verdict
Owning a swimming pool is the dream for most people. Being a pool owner keeping your pool safe is necessary to prevent drowning or other mishaps. In this article, we have discussed in detail the steps needed to ensure pool security. Try to follow these, never regret spending time with us.
