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SWIMMING POOL GURU'S
POOL SAFETY TIPS
A swimming pool or spa creates a backyard oasis that can provide years of enjoyment, entertainment and fun-filled recreation for your family and friends.
Swimming Pool Guru encourages you to be a responsible pool owner and help prevent accidental submersion. Please read and follow the recommended safety tips below. Resource links for additional safety information are listed at the end of this section. Be informed, be safe & have fun!
USING LAYERS OF PROTECTION
The key to preventing accidental submersion and drowning is to have layers of protection in place. These include barriers (fences) & pool alarms, close supervision of children and advance preparation in case of an emergency:
* Never leave your children alone in or near the pool, not even for a moment.
* Anyone watching young children around a pool should know CPR and how to perform a rescue if needed. CPR classes are available at your local YMCA, American Red Cross chapter or hospital. Pool Fencing Pool Steps, Ladders & Rails, Pool Alarms SVRS (Safety Vacuum Release Systems).
* Install a fence at least 4' high around all 4 sides of an inground pool. This fence should completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard.
* For aboveground pools, steps and ladders to the pool should be secured and locked or removed when the pool is not in use.
* Use gates that self-close and self-latch, with latches higher than children's reach.
* A power safety cover (a motor-powered barrier that can be placed over the water area when the pool is not in use) that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) adds to the protection of children, but should not be used in place of a fence between your house and the pool.
* Keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd's crook or life preserver ring) and a telephone (with emergency #s posted) by the pool.
* Remove all floats & water toys from the pool after use, so children aren't tempted to venture back and reach into the water for them.
* After children are done swimming, secure the pool so they can't get back into it.
* Lock doors and windows leading to the pool.
* Pool alarms offer an added layer of protection. Underwater pool alarms generally perform better and can be used in conjunction with pool covers. We recommend systems with remote alarm receivers so the alarm can be heard inside the house or in other places away from the pool area.
* If your house forms one side of the barrier to the pool, then doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with alarms that produce a sound when a door is unexpectedly opened.
* Make sure your pool complies with the Pool & Spa Safety Act of 2007. We recommend installing a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS), a device that will automatically shut off the Pool pump & sound an audible alarm if a blockage is detected. You should also know where your Pool pump's cut-off switch is, and clearly mark it.
* For swimmers with physical challenges, the elderly & those recuperating from injury or illness, a Pool Lift offers safe, convenient access to the pool for exercise, therapy & recreation.
* Post safety signs with pool rules (regarding diving, running, horseplay), make sure swimmers are familiar with them, and enforce them.
Diving Safety
Practice safe diving at your pool by following these safety precautions:
* Don't dive into aboveground pools; they are too shallow.
* Don't dive from the side of an inground pool. Enter the water feet first.
* Dive only from the end of the diving board and not from the sides.
* Dive with your hands in front of you and "steer up" upon entering the water to avoid hitting the bottom or sides of the pool.
* Don't dive if you have been using alcohol or drugs.
* Post safety signs with pool rules (regarding diving, running, horseplay), make sure swimmers are familiar with them, and enforce them.
Hot Tub, Spa & Whirlpool Safety
Enjoy your hot tub, spa or whirlpool. These tips will help make for a safe and relaxing spa experience for everyone!
* Always supervise children using a spa or hot tub.
* Use a quality Spa Step to provide safe, convenient access to your Spa or Hot Tub, and to help prevent injury when entering or exiting.
* Every Spa should have a locking Spa Cover in place when it's not in use. Not only does this help prevent unauthorized access and injury, it keeps debris out of your Spa Water, and reduces evaporation & heat loss.
* Post safety signs with Spa & Hot Tub rules, make sure Spa users are familiar with them, and enforce them.
* Use a locked safety cover when the spa is not in use.
* For Spas & Hot Tubs with a Cover, consider a Cover Lifter to make taking the Cover on and off your Spa safe & easy, even for one person.
* Make sure your spa complies with the Pool & Spa Safety Act of 2007. We recommend installing a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS), a device that will automatically shut off your spa's pump & sound an audible alarm if a blockage is detected. You should also know where the pump's cut-off switch is, and clearly mark it.
* Check your spa or hot tub regularly to ensure it is in good, safe working condition, and that drain covers are in place and not cracked or missing.
* Anyone who has consumed alcohol or use any drugs should not use the hot tub or spa. Maintain a spa water temperature of 104° Fahrenheit or below. * Never allow a child to play in a way that could permit the child's hair to come near the drain cover.
The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals
Suggest this easy acronym to help us all remember the important factors and issues surrounding pool safety. Discuss safety with your children often. It could help save a life!
You, your family and friends will enjoy a happier, healthier pool and spa experience if you remember the rules of S-A-F-E-T-Y:
S is for "SUPERVISION" More Than Just a Good Idea
* There's no substitute for ADULT supervision.
* Keep your eyes on the pool at all times.
A is for "ALERT" Pay Attention, Play Smart
* A favorite toy left near the water can be a very strong attraction for a child. Store all toys & playthings away from the pool or spa area.
* Store all chemicals, cleansers, and accessories safely and securely in appropriate areas.
* Serve food and beverages in non-breakable containers in the pool area.
* Get out of the pool at the first sign of a thunderstorm.
F is for "FREE" Be Substance-FREE* Anyone who has consumed alcohol or any drugs should not use the pool or spa. Consult a physician prior to swimming or using a spa if you are taking any mediation on a regular basis.
E is for "EMERGENCY" Procedures Get Training and Education
* Learn CPR, it may save a life.
* Keep a charged portable telephone by the pool, along with emergency contact numbers. * Invest in rescue equipment (shepherd’s crook, life ring) and keep it poolside.
* Ropes and float lines placed across the pool should be used to alert swimmers to the separation of the deep and shallow ends of the pool.
T is for "TEACHING" Never Too Old or Too Young * Everyone should be taught to swim. Children should be enrolled in swimming lessons or a program to familiarize them with the water. Check your local YMCA, Parks & Recreation department or other local programs near your area.
* Learn safe diving!!!
* Know the depth of the water prior to diving.
* Never dive into shallow water,
* Never dive into an aboveground pool.
Y is for "YOU"
* By thinking about safety all the time, you are being a responsible pool owner and user!
Prevent Child In-Home Drowning Deaths
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns consumers about hidden drowning hazards for small children in and around the home. Recent data show that a third as many children under age 5 (an average of about 115 annually) drown from other hazards around the home as drown in pools.
Many of these deaths are associated with common household products. For example:
* About two-thirds of the drowning deaths in the home, not including pools, occur in bathtubs. Some of these bathtub drowning deaths happened when children were in bath seats or rings.
* 5-gallon buckets, often used for household chores, pose a serious threat to toddlers. Their tall, straight sides combined with their stability make it nearly impossible for top-heavy infants to free themselves when they topple in headfirst.
* Toilets are often overlooked as a drowning hazard in the home. The typical scenario involves a child under 3-years-old falling headfirst into the toilet.
* Spas and Hot Tubs pose another drowning hazard. A solar cover can allow babies to slip into the water while the cover appears to stay in place, hiding the child.
Childhood drowning deaths also occur in other containers that may contain liquids, including coolers, sinks, fish tanks and landscape ponds. CPSC offers these safety tips to help prevent childhood drowning deaths in and around the home.
* NEVER leave a baby alone in a bathtub even for a second. Always keep baby in arm's reach.
* NEVER leave young children alone or with young siblings in a bathtub even if you are using a bath seat or ring. Children can drown quickly and silently.
* Keep the toilet lid down, and keep young children out of the bathroom when unsupervised. Consider placing a latch on the bathroom door out of reach of young children.
* Be sure all containers that contain liquids are emptied immediately after use. Do not leave empty containers in yards or around the house where they may accumulate water and attract young children.
* Always secure the safety cover on your spa or hot tub.
* Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) - it can be a lifesaver.
