How to Enjoy the Benefits of Your Pool Safely

Even if you know how to swim, a pool can be a dangerous place for children and adults if proper safety measures are not taken.

To help you enjoy the benefits of your pool and keep everyone safe, we recommend following these drowning tips provided by our Los Angeles pool contractors:

• Always supervise children: A responsible adult should be present any time children are playing in or around the pool. Drowning accidents can happen quickly and often occur quietly. The responsible adult should never be distracted and should be prepared to jump in should it be necessary.
• Never swim alone: Because it’s not just children who can drown, it’s always important to go swimming with a buddy or have someone watching you just in case.
• Learn CPR: It’s not uncommon for anyone who is drowning to choke on water and need resuscitation. Learning CPR is a valuable skill and can help save a life.
• Ensure the pool area is free of toys: While it may be fun to play with pool toys while you’re enjoying a swim, it’s important to properly store them after you’re done. Any toys left over in the area are enticing for small children. They may make the child enter the pool area unsupervised, where they can easily fall into the pool and drown.
• Don’t drink too much alcohol: Anytime you imbibe too much alcohol, your inhibitions and senses are affected. Much like you cannot operate a vehicle while drunk, you cannot properly swim. For your safety, drink responsibly.
• Put a fence around your pool: If you have young children, or even a pet, it’s important to put a proper fence or barrier around your pool to keep them out. It’s a good idea to have the fence at least 4 feet tall and made out of material that’s difficult for children to climb on or open without parental assistance.
• Install a pool alarm: Special alarms float or are installed below your pool’s water line and alert you whenever someone enters the pool. Although these are helpful devices, they still don’t replace the necessity for supervision.
• Make sure your pool deck is clean: Trash, toys, and other items could result in someone slipping and falling. In addition to the danger of someone hitting their head on the concrete or side of your pool, they could fall in and drown.
• Steer clear of drains: Because of their strong suction capabilities, shoelaces, hair, hands, and other items can get caught in a drain and trap an individual in the water. Drain covers or vacuum release systems are helpful to avoid these situations.