Safe Pools for Safe Kids

In recent years, an average of about 250 children under the age of 5 drown annually in swimming pools nationwide.

FENCING AROUND POOLS, SPAS, AND HOT TUBS

Most towns have town ordinances stating how high a fence must be and the type of materials it should be made out of. Most town's height requirements range from 4-6 feet with no openings larger than 4 inches in between the fencing, with a locked gate to prevent children from gaining entry and possibly drowning. It is recommended that when putting up a fence, you do not use your house as one side of the fencing because children could easily get out of the house and into the pool.

ENTRAPMENTS

• Make sure your spa or hot tub covers are on tightly and are secured to prevent children from getting into them.
• In the winter, make sure your pool cover is secured down tightly and check for any damage where a child could fall into the pool.
• In the summer, when solar covers are in use, make sure to leave a small part of the cover folded back so that in the event that someone falls into the pool, they would have an avenue of escape.
• Make sure your spa or hot tub has dual drains and drain covers required by current safety standards, including an emergency shut off switch.
• Make sure that if you have long hair to tie it back so that it does not get caught in the filter or any other fixtures under the water while swimming.

PARENTAL SUPERVISION

• Children should always be supervised while swimming, even if in a public pool with a lifeguard on duty.
• Children who do not know how to swim must wear a personal floatation device or use floatation aids while in the pool area.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times while in the pool area. The parents should have direct eye contact on their children at all times.

STATISTICS

• In recent years, an average of about 250 children under the age of 5 drown annually in swimming pools 
  nationwide.
• A CPSC study showed that almost 70 percent of the young victims were not expected to be in or even around the pool area.
• Proper precautions can prevent accidental deaths or injuries from occurring.