Swimming pools can be a fun way to pass the time or get into shape, but they’re also something you need to take seriously to prevent an accident. Though dangers might be few and far between at your house, you want to rule out anything hazardous in your pool. Once you have all the best swimming pool safety measures in place, you can enjoy your pool to its fullest throughout the warmer months of the year. Here are some tips to help you feel more assured in the safety of your home.
1. Ensure Everyone Can Swim
One way to prevent a devastating accident in your household is to ensure everyone there knows how to swim. You might even want to ensure your guests know how to swim before they use your pool. Learning to swim can prevent many pool-based accidents, yet around 55% of people don’t know how. You are never too old for swim lessons, especially if it means ensuring you and your families safety. Teach your kids basic floating, treading and emergency procedures, like yelling for help if they fall in. These lessons will help your kids and loved ones feel more comfortable in the water, and help your own piece of mind.
2. Keep an Eye on Damages
Over time, pools collect wear and tear that can be dangerous. By taking inventory of your pool often, you’ll notice when the pool lining starts to rip in any place or if your above-ground pool has begun to bow. Once you see something amiss, get it handled immediately. If it’s not a quick fix, try to fix it on your own temporarily while waiting for a professional to remedy the issue.
3. Manage Your Water Well
Make sure to clean out any bugs or leaves to lessen the risk of having a dirty pool, especially if you don’t have some sort of cover. Public pools are known for spreading bacteria around, but your private pool can be as clean as you keep it. Chlorine can also kill some forms of bacteria, though you shouldn’t rely on it alone to keep your family safe. Your pool likely runs on a delicate balance of chemicals that keeps it safe for those swimming in it.
Pool water testing can also help you determine the water’s chemical levels and if they need to be adjusted. You must ensure that the chemicals stay in balance to be safe, so you might need to use pool test strips every few days until you know the water is in balance. Human mistakes make up around 85% of water testing errors, so make sure you’re using the right techniques to test your chemicals.
4. Fence Off The Pool Area
Putting a fence around an in-ground pool is one of the best ways to keep out pets and small children. You can’t have your eye on them at all times, and the fence is just another safety mechanism that can prevent drowning or an unnecessary scare when you’re busy doing something else. You can implement a fence with above-ground pools as well — maybe in the form of building a deck around it with a gate that isn’t easy to open. It’s a great option, whether you have a pool cover or not.
5. Set Designated Rules
When you go to a public pool, you may notice signs with rules on them posted around the area. As un-fun as it may seem to have rules for your pool, it can prevent a serious accident from happening on your property and hurting a loved one. Even if people roll their eyes at the idea of rules, they can keep your home and the people within it safe.
For example, you can put regulations on how people use the pool. While water might be a great way to exercise because you exert less stress on your joints, it can still be dangerous. You should be outside whenever someone is using your pool to exercise. Alternatively, you might also forbid anyone from swimming if they’ve consumed alcohol. These simple rules can make the environment much safer for your loved ones who want to swim at your house.
Keep Everyone Safe This Summer
Summer is the best time to have fun in the pool. Whether alone, swimming with your family, or inviting the whole neighborhood over, prioritizing swimming pool safety is the best way to ensure everyone has fun and can come back to make more memories in the future. Be sure you are implementing ways to create a safer, more fun time in the pool, you certainly won’t regret it.
