As we now are beginning to see warm weather in Texas, many of us will begin using and enjoying our swimming pools again. It’s a great time of the year for kids and adults alike.
That being said, it is also important to keep in mind that each year approximately 43,000 people are injured in and around swimming pools and more than 600 people drown in home or public swimming pools. Half of these fatalities happen in the back yards of single family homes and many are preventable.
Here are a few safety tips for each homeowner to follow to insure that your home swimming pool is as safe as possible:
- Never leave small children unsupervised-even just for a minute.
- Put fencing around the pool area to keep people from using the pool without your knowledge.
- Install a fence that separates the home from the pool, so that small children cannot wander out of the house and into the pool.
- Be sure all pool users know how to swim. Even infants can now be introduced to swimming with professional instructors.
- Dont swim alone or allow others to swim alone.
- Stay out of the pool during rain or lightning storms.
- Keep all electrical devices away from pools or wet surfaces.
- Consider going without or removing the diving board.
- Keep children away from pool drains. The suction force may injure them or prevent them from surfacing.
- Never dive into a shallow or above ground pool. Check the water depth before diving in.
These are just a few safety tips to keep in mind so that all of us can have an enjoyable summer and avoid some of the unnecessary risks associated with swimming pools.