Keeping your NJ Inground Swimming Pools Safe and Fun for Children
August 23rd, 2014 | By: Mitchell Knapp | Pool & Spa Design
If you have a swimming pool in your backyard, chances are that your children love to dive in and enjoy swimming during hot days. Thus, keeping NJ inground swimming pools safe is a priority for every pool owner who lives with children or holds regular swimming pool playdates for kids. Pool and patio expert Lisa Hallett Taylor explained the paramount importance of pool safety in an article for the About Home website:
While swimming pools provide hours of exercise and enjoyment, accidental drownings in pools, spas and hot tubs are the leading cause of death for children under age 5 and the second-leading cause of death for children 15 and under.
The most effective precaution when letting children have a swim is to never leave them alone. Always be there to watch the young ones and make sure they don’t float away. Being alert in the swimming pool also gives you an advantage in emergency situations: You can rescue a child immediately in case of cramps, and you can take him or her out of the water quickly. Learn how to swim and perform basic CPR techniques, because being passive does not pay off.
You can also make your pool safer by placing a fence around the swimming pool to prevent children from going into the pool without your consent. Make sure the gate of your fence is locked, and remove clutter around the area. Also, make sure to get a portable water heater for your children’s feet as this can help remove dead skin from their feet after they are done swimming. Invest on non-slip surfaces and place them around the pool to avoid accidental slips. Provide safety gear like floaties, life savers, and other inflatable objects for your children to wear; don’t rely too much on these, though, since being alert is still required. Having a first aid kit is helpful in addressing minor injuries. Set up a perimeter around the pool by placing ropes and float lines for your children to follow. Install instructions around the area for everyone to read, and have a phone and pool alarm installed nearby for additional emergency support. These protocols will help make your inground swimming pool a much safer environment for children.
Keeping residential NJ swimming pools safe is something not to be taken lightly. Specialist companies such as Tranquility Pools can survey your backyard before starting any work, so consult them for safety tips and recommendations for landscaping your pool.
(Source: Swimming Pool Safety: Layers of Protection for ‘Pool Safety’, About Home)
