4 Important Home Swimming Pool Safety Tips

Its summertime! Which means homeowners and renters with their own private pool are reviewing their pool, equipment, and outdoor areas for safety issues—or they should be!
The following tips will help you identify and address areas of concern in and around your pool, and help to ensure you have a fun, safe summer at the pool.

1. Do you have the proper equipment?
Pool filters and pumps aren’t the only necessary parts needed for maintaining a safe pool—a locking pool fence will help to prevent a child from accidentally falling in, a pool cover will help keep the pool clean when not in use, and flotation devices should be nearby in case there is an accident. Other equipment to consider include a first aid kit that includes scissors stashed near the pool or an alarm on any door leading outside to the pool area.

2. Review insurance coverage.
Pools can be considered an “attractive nuisance,” meaning a homeowner could be found liable for an injury sustained by a child who is tempted by the attraction to trespass. Even if you do not have any children yourself, having some type of fence or enclosure (or remove the stairs for an above ground pool) serves as a means to deter others from trespassing and going for a swim. Review your coverage to see if you are covered for liability related to an “attractive nuisance.”

3. Maintain safety vigilance.
Constantly review pool rules and safety with your family and guests. Also, be sure to lock your pool fence and employ the pool cover when the pool is not in use. Make all pool safety rules and practices a habit that becomes second nature to you and your family.

4. Never allow children to swim unattended.
Even children who have learned to swim should never be left unattended in or near the pool. At least one adult should hold the responsibility of watching any children who are swimming without any distraction—no reading or playing on their phone. Its also recommended to ensure a phone is nearby when people are swimming in case of emergency.

5. Regularly clean your pool.
Cleaning your pool is key to maintaining the health of the pool system and the health of those who go for a swim. Cleaning the pool before “opening it for the season” is common—but not the only time a pool may need to be cleaned. You should test the water regularly, with special attention after a storm or following peak usage to see if the levels for TDS, chlorine, and pH are still within normal ranges and treating the pool accordingly with the appropriate types of chemicals or additives. You can read more about how to clean your pool here.

Follow these safety rules will help to ensure everyone has a good time in the pool and keep things safe when they are out.