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Child-Proofing Your Swimming Pool
Children are naturally curious, making pools a potentially-hazardous magnet. To avoid the worst, it’s best to invest in some pool safety features, which can save the lives of children, pets and general wildlife.
Other than your bare essentials, such as chlorine tablets, here at 1st Direct Pools, we also stock a great range of swimming pool enclosures and safety swimming pool covers for your peace of mind!
It can be tricky to child-proof a pool; the best way to practise pool safety is to back up your main protective features with a secondary or even tertiary safety measure. This way, you can have confidence in the safety of your child.
You can’t rely on hearing a drowning incident, as they are more often than not silent, which is why vigilance is critical. Alongside being on high alert, pool rules and swimming lessons are also a great idea; these should be implemented as early as possible.
Pool barriers are a great place to start - they can offer a sense of security and confidence. When using one, make sure to close the gate after each use and never prop the gate open.
The swimming pool fence should reach at least 4 feet and have a secure gate with a self-closing latch. In addition, an alarm should be set to go off every time the pool gate or door is opened.
Some covers are specially designed to keep kids out. When designed and set up correctly, they can provide a confident barrier that can leave you to rest assured.
When searching for a pool cover to install, make sure to invest in one that can support an adult’s weight. To ensure your pool cover can provide adequate safety, the pool cover will need to be attached securely.
If rainwater starts to collect, this will need to be pumped or drained away immediately; even a couple of inches of water can cause a sagging cover which could endanger a small child.
If the pool is in use, the cover should be completely removed to ensure that there is no possible way someone can become trapped underneath. Once the pool is no longer being used, the cover will need to be securely locked in place.
There are a variety of alarms you can choose from.
Pool alarms can be placed:
- On the doors leading to the pool.- The surface of the pool water.- Submerged in the pool.- On the child’s wrist.
In essence, the alarm will either go off when:
- A door or window to the pool has been opened.- The motion detector or camera has been set off.- The water has been displaced and the wave sensors have been set off.
All pool chemicals should be stowed away in a locked area, so your little one won’t be able to access them.
Alongside this, the pool’s water should be balanced regularly to ensure it’s a safe swimming environment.
For more information about how you can practice pool safety, why not check out our article How to Make Your Swimming Pool Safe?
For more information and advice, feel free to contact a member of our team; here at 1st Direct Pools, we’re always happy to help.
