Whenever the season turns to summer and the backyard pools are open, the tragic stories of accidental pool drowning begin. It happens every year, someone forgets the door, someone takes a little boy out of sight for a second and, after a frantic search, finds the boy at the bottom of the pool. Backyard pools are a great thing to have, but they’re only great when they’re safe too.
With the summer months filled with busy days and lots to do in the yard, they are also full of distractions and it doesn’t take long before a tragedy strikes, but of course there are many ways to prevent accidental drowning. The first is, of course, to have a fence around the pool. This seems like a no-brainer and in many places it is actually the law. It is not enough to have your garden fenced in, and it is recommended that your pool area be fully fenced as well. This gives you a little extra time, an extra line of defense if you like, and keeps another obstacle between that group and that curious kid.
Of course, a fence is nothing without a working gate, and luckily, you can get automatic gate closers for your pool gates. What they do is automatically close the door and secure it so that it is never accidentally left open. They work well when you’re going through a bunch of items and you just don’t have a free hand to close the door and they work wonderfully to keep little ones out when you’re in the closed area cleaning or maintaining the pool. letting you do your chores and not having to worry about what the children do.
Back door alarms that lead to the backyard are also a great investment, especially if you have younger children. They may have mastered how to open the door, but that alarm will let you know that they are leaving and you can stop them before they go too far.
As always, common sense can also prevail. Do not leave anything with wheels (scooters, bicycles, tricycles, wagons, etc.) on the pool deck. These items belong to the lawn. And when you are done with the pool toys, collect them and put them away, do not let them float in the pool, as this will only pique the interest of the little ones. Stay safe and have fun!