Backyard pools are a great memory maker and learning experience for kids, but they can also be a source of danger for kids and worry for parents—and rightfully so. But thankfully there are some easy ways to keep your kids safe and the good times flowing with your backyard pool. Let’s go over some of the safety solutions for backyard pools, from great rules to physical barriers:
1. Create a Physical Barrier
Physical barriers are the best way to keep kids away from the pool area when they're not supposed to be there. However, they're not a stand-alone solution. Children are very innovative in solving problems, including figuring out how to get around physical barriers. That being said, having a fence, wall, or similar surround for your pool helps slow down their access to your pool, giving you more time to respond.
2. Sound the Alarm
Alarms give you knowledge of when one of someone is near your pool area, allowing you to respond quickly. Given the fast speed at which children can move, especially when they've got a strong motivation such as a fun-looking swimming pool, alarms allow you to figure out where they are quickly when seconds count.
3. Set Solid Rules — and Enforce Them!
Talk to your children about the dangers of swimming, and make sure they know what the rules are. Make sure they know that they cannot use the pool unless there's a dedicated grown up to keep track of them. Ensure they understand the consequences of breaking these rules, whether it involves running around the pool or sneaking into the shallow end for a quick wade, and make sure they’re communicated and enforced.
4. Always Have a Water Watcher
It's easy to give in to friends who want to have their kids over to use your pool, promising to watch them, just to have their faces disappear behind their phones. Require that there be a water watcher, lifeguard, or responsible adult pay attention to everything going on in and around the water to ensure safe pool use—and don’t be afraid to deny neighbors who haven’t respected your rules in the past.
5. Teach Your Kids to Swim
One of the best ways to prevent drowning is by teaching your children how to swim. Though this won't prevent all drowning situations, it will prevent the most common ones, when a child ends up in water where they can't touch the bottom. Make sure that your children know the basics so that they can stay safe in the water, including how to handle a rescue without endangering themselves.
6. Install Anti-Entrapment Drain Covers
Drains can be tempting places for children, but can also create locations where they can become tangled or stuck with limited movement, making it much more difficult to get out of the water. Whether due to significant suction, gratings that allow hair to get tangled, or similar issues, anti-entrapment drain covers help reduce the risk of accidents and drowning.
7. Know CPR
Because ambulances can take a long time to dispatch, knowing CPR is the single easiest way to turn the tide of a near-drowning experience. This allows you to get a child out of the water, the water out of their lungs, and vital oxygen into their systems, reducing the risk of brain damage from lack of oxygen.
8. Check the Water First When Children Go Missing
It's tempting to check the streets, bedrooms, and other areas of your home, but given the short amount of time in which a drowning can take place, if a child goes missing—start with your pool. This allows you to rule out this potential danger or act quickly at a time when every moment counts.
9. Never Leave Children Unattended Near Water
It can't be said often enough: don't leave your children unattended near the water. No matter how well they swim, no matter how well-behaved they are around the water, a momentary distraction can stretch out to several minutes, during which time terrible damage can take place to drowning victims.
By implementing these tips with your pool practices, you can improve your backyard pool safety and help keep your family safe from this danger. If you're considering adding physical barriers, such as a pool fence, the experienced professionals at HOA Affordable Fence Builders can help you find the right solutions for your situation. Please feel free to reach out today with any questions you have, for more information on our fencing solutions, or to schedule a consultation with our designers.
