In recent years an abundance of products have become available to residential swimming pool owners. I have categorized them as follows: Pool Enclosures, Pool Fencing, Pool Covers, Pool Alarms, Chemical Automation, Anti-Entrapment Drain Covers, Vacuum Release Systems, Rescue Equipment, Deck Safety and Signs.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission offers the following advice for residential pool owners.
Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool.
Instruct baby-sitters about potential hazards to young children in and around swimming pools and the need for constant supervision.
Completely fence the pool. Install self-closing and self-latching gates.
Position latches out of reach of young children.
Keep all doors and windows leading to the pool area secure to prevent small children from getting to the pool. (Effective barriers and locks are necessary preventive measures, but there is no substitute for supervision).
Do not consider young children "drown proof" because they have had swimming lessons; young children should always be watched carefully while swimming.
Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
Never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, since children may become entrapped under it. Remove the cover completely.
Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area.
Keep toys away from the pool area because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water.
Remove steps to above ground pools when not in use.
Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency numbers at the poolside telephone.
Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
Keep rescue equipment by the pool.
Pool Safety Specialists adds
Replace your main drain cover with one that has passed the VGB act.
Pool Safety Specialists, poolsafetyspecialists.com and I, Steve Lincke are employed by various safety product manufacturers to promote pool safety as well as their products. We choose these manufacturers by their products merits as a safety product and will only represent the finest products available. We make our recommendations regarding various pool safety products based upon all available products, for their merits and system/job specific application. All products must be installed as per manufacturer's instructions and be job site specific to meet the criteria of each individual application.
