Today, let’s talk about a few of the multiple layers of protection you can add to your home to prevent any tragedies from occurring.It may not seem like it, but the swimming pool or hot tub in your backyard could be a the most dangerous thing you own. Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death for children under five years of age. In case of an accident, these preventative steps can quite literally be life savers.
Most Drownings Happen While the Family is Nearby
As we’ve said many times before on this blog, drowning is extremely dangerous for children. Contrary to what many folks assume, drownings don’t just happen when kids are alone. In fact, research shows that the majority of at-home pool drownings or near-drownings occurred while the parents were in or around the house.
In many of these situations, the parents or guardians may have even been in the pool area. Most of the time, drowning isn’t at all like it is shown in movies. It’s often silent and faster than most of us realize. When trouble strikes, it doesn’t include a lot of thrashing or screaming. The victim simply slips silently under the water.
Multiple Layers of Protection are the Key to Safety
Believe it or not, it only takes a few quick seconds of a supervising adult being distracted for a child to get into trouble. Safety should be the number one concern of any pool owner. That said, it’s important to not put all your eggs in a single basket.
Rather than simply locking your doors or buying one safety device, it’s best to have a wide range of pool safety options. Multiple layers of protection will greatly decrease your chances of a water-related tragedy. In the next sections, we’ll discuss a few of these.
Pool Fences
No one should be surprised that Life Saver Pool Fence is very focused on pool fences. After all, it’s right in our name. Besides that, it’s just a terrific layer of protection for your home. Pool fences are specifically designed to keep children (and pets!) from accessing the pool area. Drowning rates drop significantly when one of these handy barriers is in place.
Of course, the fence must be high-quality and sturdy. The mesh of the fence should be strong enough to withstand the force of a child or pet slamming against it. It should be able to stand up to the elements.
Generally, the taller the fence is, the better. The fence should be a minimum of 4’ high. You want to prevent kids from climbing over the barrier, after all. We have a full post about the value of pool fences that will be helpful for further details.
One last consideration should be a self-closing and self-latching gate. While a closed pool fence may keep toddlers out of the pool area, there is still a risk of older children figuring out a way to open the gate. A locked pool gate keeps even the craftiest of children out of harm’s way. These gates close and lock behind you whenever you open them. This handy layer of protection eliminates the guesswork and fear of “did I remember to close the pool gate?”
Locks and Alarms
When installing multiple layers of protection, don’t forget to add high locks to all your windows and doors. If a home entrance can lead to the water, it’s best to lock it up. Failing that, you can install an alarm to alert you if a door or window has been opened somewhere in your home. There are even alarms you can have your child wear that will sound if it submerged in water. This is another crucial helper for parents who are justifiably worried about water danger.
Swimming Lessons and CPR Training
Education is a very powerful weapon to combat drowning danger. To this end, everyone should know how to swim. Swimming lessons are critical for every member of your household, no matter their age. Finally, CPR training is also essential for swimming safety. If you’re going to be out on the water, the more people who are CPR certified, the better. Water can be fun, but it takes multiple layers of protection to help eliminate drowning danger. Take extra precautions and you’ll be in for a much safer swim. There are a number of other layers of protection that pool owners can employ. To help, we’ve created this handy infographic.
