Pool Safety
Whether it's your own backyard or the local community pool, safety around pools is extremely important. Taking your family to any pool comes with tons of fun, as well as serious responsibilities. Adequate supervision and poolside party safety precautions will ensure everyone has a great time and no one gets hurt.
Never leave children unsupervised! No child (or adult for that matter) should be left to swim alone. If there were an emergency, it is critical that there is another responsible adult nearby to intervene as quickly as possible.
Don't swim or get near the water for at least 30 minutes after hearing thunder or seeing lightning. Although lightning isn't attracted to water, water is very conductive and electricity can travel through roots, lights, pumps, and pipes as well. So even if lightning strikes nearby, it is possible to get electrocuted as the discharge spreads across the water.
Install a fence with self locking and self closing gates to completely isolate your pool from your house and the areas around it. Pools are considered an attractive nuisance (similar to trampolines), meaning they are a temptation for others to wander into your yard and use them (typically kids). Harmless as it may seem, if someone, be it your guest or a neighborhood kid wandering by who decides to have a quick dip, gets hurts...you may be liable. Having a fence (or two) may be required by your insurance carrier as well.
Teach and explain the pool rules to your children and guests each time they arrive, and post them in a highly visible location. Such safety rules may include, but not be limited to; no running, no glass, no smoking, no diving, no pushing, no dunking, no breath holding, etc.
Keep your fingers, hands, arms, and toys out of any and all filters, jets, grates, etc. On a pool deck, there are plenty of drains, intake, output, and mechanical components on a pressurized system that work to keep the water clean and levels stable. Not only can you disrupt that system by messing with them, you could also injure yourself putting things where they don't belong.
In addition, you should take it upon yourself for the benefit of everyone who comes to visit your pool to be prepared for an emergency.
- Take lifeguard, CPR and first-aid courses in case anyone needs assistance while on your property. Once old enough, your children should receive this same training.
- Enroll your children in swimming classes led by a qualified swim instructor.
- Keep rescue equipment (throw ring, poll hook, first aid kit) and a cellphone close to the pool area so you can call 911.
- Place emergency numbers and CPR instructions close to the pool
