Opening up swimming pools after a long, cold winter is one of the greatest early summer tasks. These hot-weather family entertainment hotspots keep kids and adults entertained for months and are a family’s favourite way to cool off and relax.
They also represent a threat to children who are vulnerable due to their eagerness to be in the water and their immaturity. Research shows that every year, 300 children under the age of five drown in backyard swimming pools. That statistic can be depressing for families that enjoy swimming, but the good news is that drowning is largely preventable.
Use Covers and Fences
Many covers are too heavy for kids to lift, and the best ones will sustain the weight of an average adult without warping, tearing, or breaking. Consider covers as your first line of protection against accidents. You want to choose covers that can be locked in place while the pool is not in use. Make sure that rainfall gathers on top of the cover is drained, or use a cover that drains collected water into the pool.
Your pool is probably required under the swimming pool compliance certificate in Sydney to be enclosed by a fence with a lockable gate. If it’s not required, consider getting one nevertheless to keep your pool safe between supervised swims. Choose a self-closing, self-latching gate and keep anything that youngsters could use to scale the fence out of the pool area.
Install Alarms
You can make efforts to prevent access to your pool, but determined children can find a way to get around covers and gates. Knowing when someone has fallen or jumped into your pool is the next best approach to keep it safe. When someone approaches the pool, an alarm on the pool fence will sound, but you can also install alarms in the pool itself.
A wave alarm alerts you to any person or object falling into the pool. The alarm is triggered when waves are made inside the pool. A light alarm uses beams to surround the perimeter and will alert you if those beams are broken. No matter what alarm you go with, it will only work if you keep them armed.
Store Equipment Properly
Ensure that your pool equipment is safely housed behind solid fencing, preferably a fenced-in area with a locking gate. Never use the pool when an automatic vacuum is running since the hoses can entangle even the most experienced swimmers. When not in use, store the stairs to above-ground pools in the shed.