Pools and kids go together like peanut butter and jelly, but the combination can be a deadly one if the proper precautions aren’t taken. Every summer kids accidentally drown in backyard pools and it is always such a heartbreaking thing to hear about, and while nothing can prevent every accident, there are some things we can do to make water and kids a great combination, not an accident waiting to happen.
We all know that the experts suggest we fence off the pool area and this is great advice. Making the fence slippery and hard to climb (think thin, straight, shiny pieces instead of anything you can easily climb) is the way to go, but also important is the gate. If the gate to the pool area is left open, kids have easy access. If the gate is easy to get open, same thing applies, so what you want is an automatic gate closer. These are easy to put on and easy to maintain and what they do is close the gate, each and every time it gets opened.
An automatic gate closer is great if you are going through with an armload of toys or chemicals. They’re also great if you need to quickly grab something and forget to close the gate after yourself. They are fool proof as they use gravity and swing to get and keep that gate closed. A closed gate means no entry, even for the most enterprising of young ones.
Keeping enticing pool toys away from the pool area when not in use is also a great preventative. Kids can play with their toys away from the pool area in safety. It’s also a great idea to keep anything with wheels as far away from the pool area as possible. No one needs to ride their tricycle around on the deck, it’s just too dangerous.
Talking with your kids about pool safety goes a long way in keeping them safe around water. You will also want to teach them to swim so that they won’t panic as much if they find themselves in water. A little bit of prevention goes a long, long way in keeping kids safe around the pool.
Even when the pool is closed, it can be a hazard for little ones. Invest in a hard cover for the pool so that there are no sags and places to fall into and become entangled in the cover. Safety first!