When planning to install an in-ground pool on your backyard, it’s important to perform some basic research first because each municipality can have their own building code.
In most areas swimming pools require fencing for safety reasons, so be sure to calculate these costs into the overall project as well.
Drowning is a silent killer of so many young children. It is one of the leading reasons of death in children under the age of five years old. Parents and grandparents with pools need to make sure that they take the right precautions when it comes to the children who are swimming in their pools.
- When you decide on getting a pool, the safety of your loved ones should be taken into consideration. During the months of May through August, deaths and injuries in pools are at their highest.
- Most of the deaths of young children under the age of 5, have taken place at residential pools. Eighty-eight percent of all deaths related to drowning in pools were at a family members home.
- In-ground pools have the highest related deaths at 59%, while above ground pools are at 15%, and portable pools at 9%.
There are many ways that we can prevent these deaths and injuries.
- Make sure that you stay within arm’s reach of the pool. It is important because you may need to jump in at any time to help save the young children swimming nearby.
- Make sure that if you cannot watch the swimmers, you have someone that can and that they are alert and aware of the pool.
- Make sure the children that are swimming are given proper swimming lessons.
- Get an adult around that knows CPR or learn it yourself.
Some safety equipment that can be required in your area when building a new pool includes:
- pool safety fence
- pool safety covers
- anti-entrapment equipment
- pool alarms
- handicap reachable pool safety products
- general pool safety products
Swimming pool fences are one of the more common equipment used regarding pool safety. They are usually childproofed and have a gate. There are many different kinds of pool fences that you can use such as:
- aluminum fences
- four-sided isolation fences
- steel fences
- wood fences
- chain link fences
- composite fences
- perimeter fences
- vinyl fences
- removable pool fences
There are a variety of pool alarms which include:
- gate alarms
- door alarms
- wrist alarms
- window alarms
- perimeter alarms
- floating/wave sensors
- mounted infrared motion detectors
- pool mounted infrared motion detectors
- above ground pool alarm
Anti-entrapment equipment is required to prevent serious injuries or drowning by stopping the swimmer from being pulled down from the suction of the pool drain.
General pool safety products make the pool a safe and secure environment for all swimmers and prevent injuries and even deaths. Rails provide safety from slips and falls. Swimming pool signs and depth markers keep swimmers aware of their surroundings and there should always be lifesaving equipment present.
Always check with local buildings on what their swim codes, rules and regulations are. Some locations may be required to have a pool fence or other safety equipment when a new building is being made. However, there is no federal law on this regarding pool safety.