Safeguarding Your Swimming Pool

A swimming pool can be a fun and entertaining addition to your home; however, pools pose a potential threat to the safety of your family, friends and neighbors. Take the following precautionary measures to help you safeguard your pool:

• Enclose your swimming pool or yard with a fence that includes self-locking and self-closing gates. The fence should have vertical slats with spacing no greater than four inches between each slat. Always check with your local building code official before installing a fence.
  
  
• During periods when your pool is in frequent use, consider equipping it with a flotation alarm that will signal if someone or something accidentally falls in the water.
  
  
• When not in regular use, keep your swimming pool covered.
  
  
• Clearly identify the shallow and deep ends of your swimming pool.
  
  
• Keep toys away from the pool that may entice children and keep all lawn furniture away from the fence to prevent children from climbing over it.
  
  
• Never leave a child unattended around water. Keep your eyes on your child at all times or designate an adult supervisor. (At all public swimming pools always swim in designated areas with an approved lifeguard on duty).
  
  
• Do not rely only on flotation devices and/or swimming lessons to protect children. Proper supervision is always necessary.
  
  
• If possible, always have a telephone near the pool and know your local emergency telephone numbers or 911. Encourage your family to take CPR lessons.
  
  
• Be aware of your local weather conditions and never go swimming during thunderstorms.