Summer is upon us and recent headlines involving tragic accidents at pools, spurred us to write this important post about pool safety. Around 4,000 people drown each year, and with the dog days of summer fast approaching, we want you to enjoy your time at the pool safely, whether it’s in your own backyard or elsewhere.
Here are some pool safety tips and guidelines for homeowners and guests alike:
Make sure there is a proper pool barrier in place
According to The US Consumer Product Safety Commission Safety Guidelines for Residential Pools, many of the nearly 300 children under 5 who drown each year in backyard pools could be saved if homeowners completely fenced in pools and installed self-closing and self-latching devices on gates. Previously, all inground pools in Massachusetts were required to have a four-foot self-latching fence around them to prevent small children from entering the pool area unsupervised. However, in 2018 the state adopted new safety codes that allow homeowners to install power safety covers compliant with ASTM F1346 in lieu of fencing. Be aware that not all towns in the state allow you to replace a fence with a powered pool cover, so always check with your local government for the latest regulations.
If you use a power safety cover as the barrier to prevent kids from entering the pool unsupervised, the key is to use it consistently! Regardless of the quality of your retractable cover, if it isn’t on, it won’t prevent a tragedy.
*Note: If you opt to replace a fence with a power safety cover, be sure to check your homeowners insurance to make sure the policy still covers you in the event of an accident or injury.
Inspect drains and drain covers regularly
While a pool drain may not seem like a hazard at first glance, the powerful suction of a pool pump poses a very real threat of severe and life-threatening injury for children, and indeed all swimmers. Reports of entrapment or loss of limbs are tragic outcomes of improper drains. Children should be taught never to swim near a pool or spa drain and to tell an adult if they see a broken or loose drain cover. They should NOT return to the pool until the drain cover has been replaced. The ZAC Foundation, lists three main elements that make pool drains particularly dangerous:
- Suction: Think about the end of a vacuum cleaner tube. If you’ve put your hand up to one, you’ve felt the pressure sucking against your palm. A pool drain exerts a much greater suction.
- Force: Flat drain covers can be completely blocked by a body part. The suction can be equivalent to hundreds of pounds of force, meaning it might require multiple adults to remove someone trapped.
- Circulation: Drains also create a strong circulation of water that can attract hair or jewelry and cause entanglement, increasing the risk of entrapment.
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires all residential swimming pools to have a proper drain cover to prevent entrapment. We encourage everyone to know the difference between a safe and unsafe drain:
Image Source: The ZAC Foundation
Learn how to swim
One of the best ways to reduce the risk of drowning is to learn how to swim. Children one year of age and even younger can participate in parent-child swimming lessons to help build swim readiness skills. Water safety and swimming lessons can be found at local pools, the YMCA, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the American Red Cross.
Discourage diving
Diving into unsafe water can lead to serious, and sometimes permanent, spinal injuries. According to the Shepherd Center, a non-profit hospital that helps people recover from life-changing injuries including spinal cord and brain injuries, “the only safe dive is the one you never take.” That said, many people love to dive into cool, clear water in the heat of summer and there are some precautions you can take to help prevent injury:
- It is a good habit to always enter the water feet first to learn the depth and the shape of the pool bottom (or whatever body of water you’re swimming in.) And remember, it’s not only the depth that matters; diving injuries also result from hitting the far edge of a pool or swimming hole, or the long slope up to the shallow end.
- Never dive into murky water; you don’t know what’s on the bottom.
- Never jump or dive from surrounding structures, including furniture, decks, trees, etc.
- Make sure any diving boards are compliant with federal, state, and local regulations.
- Look for―and follow―any “No Diving” instructions posted.
Use caution around pool toys
As much fun as pool toys can be, they should only be used under close supervision. Many inflatable toys are made of slick material that, when wet, can cause a child to slip off or lose their grip. Large inflatables can cause children (and adults) to flip, increasing the risk of being thrown into the side of the pool. Also, if there are too many toys in the pool, they can obstruct views of someone who is actually in distress. Water wings, swim rings, noodles, flutter boards, inflatable toys and other items designed for water recreation are never a substitute for U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or adult supervision.
Always supervise young children
There is no substitute for proper, undistracted supervision around the pool. Drownings can happen silently and in seconds, and a child struggling to swim can go unnoticed far too easily, even when multiple adults are present. In fact, up to half of all kids who drown are less than 25 yards away from an adult. According to the American Red Cross, a child or weak swimmer can drown in the time it takes to reply to a text, check a fishing line or apply sunscreen. Consider designating, or hiring, an adult to watch young children while they’re in the pool. This person should remain free from distractions, including phones, reading, or other activities that take attention away from the swimmers.
Swim responsibly
The American Journal of Preventive Medicine states that 31% of drowning deaths between 1995-2019 were attributable to alcohol. If there’s any type of alcohol being consumed, consider whether it’s even safe to enter the water.
With a little common sense and a vigilant eye to water safety, everyone can enjoy a relaxing afternoon by the pool. If you or someone you know has suffered an injury in or around a swimming pool due to negligence or product defects, call the experienced personal injury lawyers at Parker Scheer to see if you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
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