Inground Pool Safety – What You Need to Know

There are several important safety guidelines to follow for all home pools. Post emergency phone numbers near the pool and ensure that guests, babysitters and children know these instructions.

Hiring a certified professional to inspect all electrical components is recommended to ensure a safe pool opening for the season. Additionally, ensure that the pool fencing is secure and includes self-closing and self-latching gates inaccessible to children. Also, ask for a service provider to check and repair rough edges that could catch on bathing suits.

Safety Cover

Whether you have small children living at home or neighbors’ kids visiting, a safety cover helps to prevent accidental drownings and other pool-related injuries. A properly fitted and installed cover also keeps leaves, bugs and other debris from floating on the water when the pool isn’t used.

You can choose from mesh, solid or hybrid covers. A mesh cover allows rain and melted snow to pass through but doesn’t allow sticks or other debris to fall in. Solid surfaces are woven tightly enough to keep debris from falling into the pool but still allow rain and melted snow to drain. They’re typically more expensive than mesh covers.

Some covers are semi-automatic or automatically operated and can be opened and closed with a button. These are more costly but save you time and hassle. Regardless of the type of cover you choose for your inground pools Delaware OH, look for one tested and certified by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL). You’ll want to consult a professional to ensure your body fits your pool and is anchored correctly around water features or ladders.

Safety Gates

When opening your pool for the summer, ensure all gates and ladders are in good working order. Also, hire a professional to check the electrical components of your safety cover and the gate locks. They must function correctly to prevent children from getting into the water when they are not supposed to.

Gates should be placed high enough to prevent kids from climbing over them. They should be self-closing and self-latching. Install door alarms on all doors that lead to the pool area. These alarms are very loud and can be heard from far away.

Make sure you have a rescue plan and know how to perform CPR. Everyone using the pool should take a basic first aid class and learn how to use a life jacket or arm floaties. In addition, all swimmers should be trained in proper swimming techniques—one of the most effective methods to avoid drowning.

Drain Covers

You probably make sure your children wear sunscreen and swimwear, and you’re careful to ensure the pool area is well-fenced, but when was the last time you checked the drain covers? Old, non-compliant drains can create a powerful suction that can trap a swimmer underwater. Installing VGBA-compliant safety drain covers will make your home swimming pool much safer.

Also, consider upgrading to a pool pump with a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS) model. These pumps are designed to shut off immediately if they detect any resistance or blockage and can save lives. If you have a large pool with multiple drains, adding these systems to each one is best. In addition to preventing entrapment, they will clean your pool and keep leaves and debris out of the water. This will reduce the risk of algae blooms and your cleaning and maintenance costs. They’re available for inground and above-ground pools.

Supervision

When you own a swimming pool, you must ensure your family and guests use the collection safely. This means following all home pool safety rules and ensuring your children are well-trained in swimming skills and water safety.

Supervision is the ability to observe pool users within your line of sight. This can be provided by a lifeguard on the poolside, a CCTV screen or camera, an automated drowning detection system or any combination of these systems.

Having a reliable barrier between your home and pool area is crucial. Installing a gate that self-closes and locks, and cannot be opened by children or pets, is essential. It is also important to educate your children about the dangers of climbing over or around the fence and always swim with a partner. Ensure your children understand that real drowning doesn’t look like a TV drowning and that they should never try to rescue someone from the water, as this could cause them to struggle or become exhausted.