Safety Tips for Residential Swimming Pools

Every year tragedy strikes some unsuspecting family when a loved one is involved in some type of swimming pool accident. It’s hot and humid, so everyone wants to jump in and cool off but swimming pools can be very dangerous. You have to take responsibility and make sure your pool is safe for your family and friends. To do this, you need to know the risks so you can take steps to prevent accidents before they happen.

It doesn’t matter if you have a small 3-foot above ground pool or a large in-ground one that’s 10 or 12 feet deep, the following safety tips for residential swimming pools can help you stay safe this summer.

Drowning Is a Major Concern

Drowning is the leading cause of swimming pool deaths and it happens to both children and adults. Kids want to go swimming sometimes when parents are too busy to supervisor and instead of waiting they sneak off to the pool not realizing the dangers. There have even been cases where a neighbor’s child slipped into a yard to check out the pool and ended up falling in.

Whatever the case may be, drowning is a real possibility especially when kids play in or around the pool unsupervised but you can take steps to reduce these risks. First, talk to your kids about why swimming without adult supervision is dangerous. Explain how easy and quickly accidents can happen and that you must supervise them to make sure they’re safe.

Never let children swim alone and don’t supervisor them when you’re drinking alcohol or when you’re tired enough to fall asleep while sitting by the pool. It only takes a minute for something to happen, so you have to be alert when supervising. In addition, adults should never swim alone when drinking alcohol.

All homeowners should install a fence around the pool with a locked gate. The fence should be secure enough to prevent children and pets from being able to climb over it or squeeze through it. Keep the gate locked at all times and keep the key in a safe place. It’s also a good idea to buy a pool alarm that will sound off when something disturbs the water.

Electrocution Is a Real Problem

Drowning is not the only thing that you need to be aware of when it comes to swimming pool safely. U.S. News posted this news story, Electrocutions Raise Alarm before Summer. It explains how electrocution is a real possibility, especially with heated pools and those with lights for night swimming.

Don’t take chances! A professional company certified to work with electricity must do the wiring. This is the only way to ensure it’s grounded correctly and that the pool is safe for swimming.

Slip and Fall Accidents Do Happen

Another safety issue you need to be aware of is slip and fall accidents. Many kids and adults are injured every year due to falling around a pool or when going back inside the home when wet. The risks of someone slipping and falling can be greatly reduced simply by placing pool floor mats throughout the pool area. You should also place them at entranceways leading into the home or pool house. Entry floor mats will absorb the moisture and help keep these areas dry, which makes them safer.

Don’t wait until tragedy strikes to do something. Take steps now to ensure your pool and the surrounding area is safe.