Is your pool fully prepared for the colder months? At Life Saver Pool Fence, we believe water safety is important all year long. Here’s some vital steps you should be taking after you’ve shut down your pool for the year. These top five tips will keep your kids safe-and-sound between swimming seasons!

Get a Weight-Bearing Pool Cover

First things first: make sure you’re using the right pool cover. Invest in a cover that will keep debris out of your pool but also support the weight of a person if they were to stumble onto it.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

After your pool is officially closed for the colder months, keep it that way! Hiding all of the fun pool-related playthings away sends a powerful message. The pool toys, for example, just have to go. Stick them in the attic until next year. This will prevent the children from being tempted to climb back into the pool area unsupervised.

Lock the Gate

Since there is no reason for anyone to enter your closed pool area, lock it down with a padlock. It will give you great peace of mind knowing that no one can open your pool fence but you.

Tell Your Kids That the Pool is Off-Limits

This may seem like a no-brainer, but make absolutely sure that your kids understand that the pool is closed during the colder months. Because the pool area was a place of enjoyment for them all summer, this is an important mental transition for them. After laying down the law, they’ll understand that they are no longer allowed near the pool.

Maintain Your Children’s Swimming Skills During Colder Months

Finally, keeping your kids’ swimming skills sharp is one of the best ways to stay prepared. Don’t lose all of that progress your child gained from swimming all summer. Enroll them in fall or winter swim lessons to reinforce their skills. If you aren’t able to do formal lessons, at least visit an indoor pool a few times to let them practice swimming, climbing into and out of the pool, and proper breathing technique.