Stay Safe at the Pool This Summer
Summer has arrived! Now, it’s important to make sure your backyard pool is a safe place for family fun. Tragically, over 200 children drown in backyard pools each year, so make pool safety a priority by following these guidelines:
- Secure your pool with appropriate barriers. Alabama does not currently have mandatory fence laws for swimming pools, but it’s a good idea to surround your pool with a four feet high fence or barrier that has a self-closing and self-latching gate. In addition, place a safety cover on the pool or hot tub when it is not in use and remove any steps or ladders used for access. Consider using a pool alarm that sounds if anyone enters the pool area. What You Need to Know About Pool Safety and Children in Alabama
- Always actively supervise children in and around the pool. Stay within arm’s length of young children. Make sure there is a designated person to watch the water when people are in the pool. And never let anyone swim alone. Young or inexperienced swimmers should use U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets. USCG Guide to Life Jackets
- Ensure that everyone in the home knows how to swim well by enrolling them in swimming lessons.
- Keep your pool/hot tub water clean and clear. Maintain proper chemical levels, filtration, and circulation. Regularly test and adjust chemical levels to minimize the risk of earaches, rashes, and other, more serious diseases.
- Establish and enforce rules and safe behaviors such as “no diving”, “stay away from drain covers”, “swim with a buddy” and “walk please”.
- Make sure that everyone in the home knows how to respond to aquatic emergencies by having appropriate pool safety equipment and taking water safety, first aid and CPR courses from The Red Cross.
If you want to learn more about pool safety, watch this Home Pool Essentials video developed by The Red Cross and the National Swimming Pool Foundation.
Looking to buy or sell a home in the Huntsville area? Let professional Realtor Mike Manosky help you with all your real estate needs! Give him a call today at 256-508-0211!
Photo credits: cbsnews.com, guardianpoolfence.com, bandcaquatics.com, parents.com