Safety Tips

Pool Safety

This information is furnished to you to keep your family and home safe around swimming pools this summer.

Supervise Children

Close supervision of young children is vital for families with a home pool -- and not just when outside using the pool. A common scenario is that young children leave the house without a parent or caregiver realizing it. Children are drawn to water, not knowing the terrible danger pools can pose. Also, just because children know how to swim, doesn't mean they are safe. All children should be supervised every second while in and around the pool.

Fences and Walls

Fences and walls should be at least 4 feet high and installed completely around the pool. Fence gates should be self-closing and self-latching. The latch should be out of a small child's reach. Keep furniture that could be used for climbing into the pool area away from fences.

Door Alarms

If your house forms one side of the barrier to the pool, then doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with alarms that produce a sound when a door is unexpectedly opened.

Safety Cover

A power safety cover -- a motor-powered barrier that can be placed over the water area -- can be used when the pool is not in use.

Rescue Equipment

Keep rescue equipment by the pool and be sure a phone is poolside with emergency numbers posted. Knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be a lifesaver.

Pool Toys

Don't leave pool toys and floats in the pool or pool area that may attract young children to the water.

Steps and Ladders

For above-ground pools, steps and ladders to the pool should be secured and locked, or removed when the pool is not in use.

Missing Child

If a child is missing, always look in the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.

Pool Alarms

Pool alarms can be used as an added precaution. Look for alarms that meet the requirements of the ASTM standard. The commission advises that consumers use remote alarm receivers so the alarm can be heard inside the house or in other places away from the pool area.

Suction Fittings

To prevent body entrapment and hair entrapment/entanglement, have a qualified pool professional inspect the drain suction fittings and covers on your pool and spa to be sure that they are the proper size, properly attached, and meet current safety standards. If your pool or spa has a single drain outlet, consider installing a safety vacuum release system that breaks the vacuum to avoid potential entrapment conditions.

adapted from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) www.cpsc.gov