Safety Tips for Pool Owners
How can I keep my pool safe for my children? What happens if I don’t clean my pool? And how important is showering really? Find out the answers and more pool safety tips below!
1. Prevent potential drownings
According to the CDC, drowning is the number one cause of unintentional death for American children between the ages of 1 and 4. An average of 10 people drown each day, and about one in five people who die from drowning are children age 14 and under. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
Backyard drownings increase during the summer months, so keeping a safe and secure pool area is crucial, whether you have children or not.
If you do not already have one, a pool fence would be a good addition to your backyard. A four-sided isolation fence (separating the pool area from the house and yard) reduces a child’s risk of drowning 83% compared to having just your property-line fencing.
Some safety questions to ask yourself:
Is my pool gate latch at least 4 feet above the ground?
Are the vertical gaps between the fence panels less than 4 inches apart?
Have you securely stored pool toys and accessories out of view?
Have climbable objects near the pool fence been removed?
2. Never leave a child unattended near water.
Leaving your child unattended at the pool–even for a minute–can lead to devastating consequences. You not only have the potential of drowning to worry about, but them slipping, falling and seriously injuring their head as well. Kids like to run and play with caution to the wind–that’s why you have to be there just in case to protect them.
3. Routinely test your pool.
To avoid developing a recreational water illness, make sure to regularly check your chlorine and pH levels. Chlorine kills most bacteria such as E. coli in about a minute if it is kept at proper disinfection levels and under ideal water conditions throughout the pool. Need any assistance with testing? Bring a sample of your pool water to your nearest Poolwerx, and we’ll test it for free!
4. A strong chlorine smell means something’s wrong.
Have you ever gone to a public pool and been overcome by the strong smell of chlorine? You may have felt better, thinking that the pool was completely decontaminated. However, If the pool is properly cleaned and maintained, you shouldn’t smell much chlorine, if at all. The heavy chemical odor is not from chlorine, but from chloramines instead–a mix of chlorine and contaminants. The presence of chloramines means your pool is not performing at its best.
If your pool is starting to smell like this, you might need a shock treatment to clear up those chloramines and reset your pool. Give us a call and we will be happy to answer any questions or perform this service for you!
5. A shower is recommended before jumping into your pool.
A study by the Water Quality Health Council found that although 93% of American adults would never reuse someone else’s bath water, 44% percent skip the shower before entering the swimming pool. When it’s your own pool, it’s your choice whether or not to shower before jumping in, and you may only be surrounded by your family’s germs. But showering can play a big role in keeping your pool clean and helping your chlorine not work so hard in killing off nasty bacteria. When swimmers shower first, they help reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses such as diarrhea, swimmer’s ear and skin infections.
6. Consider a barrier, pool cover or safety net when not using your pool.
Pool covers help solve multiple issues. They help reduce water erosion, keep debris from falling into your pool, which allows for easier cleaning, and they prevent your kids and pets from falling into the pool accidentally. Not sure what type of pool cover to get? Find out here.
7. Ensure all pools and spas, both in your backyard and any pool you visit, have compliant drain covers.
Powerful suction from a pool or spa drain can even trap an adult underwater! All public pools and spas are required to have drain grates or covers that meet pool safety standards, but it’s good to check anyway.
8. Learn CPR and teach your children how to swim.
Swimming is not just fun, it’s a lifesaving skill! Teaching your child how to swim is essential if you have a pool to not only help keep them safe from potential drowning, but so they can enjoy their pool to the fullest. Also, learning CPR can help put your mind at ease just in case an emergency happens at your pool. You never know when you might need the skills necessary to save someone’s life.
9. Inspect your pool regularly and conduct maintenance when needed.
Maintenance is an important part of pool safety too! Regularly perform routine checks to make sure everything is running optimally. It’s a key part of keeping your pool in top shape! It’s also important to have a pool maintenance expert check in on your pool equipment periodically too. A properly trained and accredited technician will be able to thoroughly inspect your equipment to ensure the safety and efficiency of your equipment. They may be able to pick up on smaller faults or damage you haven’t noticed before it becomes a bigger issue. At Poolwerx, our local knowledgeable technicians are ready to help put your mind at ease.
