While above ground pools are a great source for relaxation and fun, they are also a drowning hazard and could lead to injury and or death due to carelessness and disregard especially for younger children. We at Emerald recommend a few basic rules to avoid any injury or worse! This is for your safety and to make sure your pool is always a source for entertainment and enjoyment.
Basic pool safety:
YOU, THE HOMEOWNER, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SWIMMING POOL AND FOR PEOPLE THAT GAIN ACCESS TO IT !
- A fence is recommended and in some areas required, to keep trespassers from gaining access to your pool including your friends ( unless you want them to) when you are not home! Check with your town for what rules or regulation apply to your pool!
- Children should never be near or in a pool unsupervised, even for one moment.
- A locking gate and or barrier is recommended to keep children from accessing a non supervised pool; Especially if you have a deck attached to the pool. If you have a deck make sure your child can not get on the deck to access the pool without you! Lock your doors or have a barrier to prevent a child from getting to the pool unsupervised.
- Children younger than 5 years of age should be within an arm’s length of an adult at all times and must wear a life vest. Children 14 and younger are at a higher risk for drowning.
- There should be an adult (life guard or pool owner) who knows CPR in attendance at all times.
- Alcohol/drug use around the pool should also be avoided at all cost to prevent injury or death.
- Keep a phone nearby. Keep rescue equipment (life preserver or shepherd’s hook) available and everyone using the pool should know where it is and how to use it.
- Air-filled “swimming aids” or “floaties” are not a substitute for approved life vests and supervision so do not count on them to keep a child afloat.
- Remember, teaching your child how to swim DOES NOT mean your child is safe in water.
- Do not leave anything next to the pool that would allow someone to climb into a pool such as a ladder, chair or box to name a few.
- NO DIVING INTO AN ABOVE GROUND POOL. The water way be too shallow even at a pool height of 48″ or more and cause injury, paralysis or death
- Do not jump off any object from height adjacent to any pool to avoid injury or death.
- Do not try to trampoline into any pool.
- Do not run around the pool as the deck may be slippery – you may slip and fall causing injury or death
- Do not walk on any frozen pool during the winter
- Do not try to “Blowout” the pool wall
- Do not back flip or front flip off the ledge of any pool
- Do not try to throw someone into a pool by holding their ankles and wrists and swinging them
Not all videos posted show your situations but it may be a guide as what not to do even if it “seems like a good idea at the time”
The Swimming pool is an enjoyable and relaxing addition to your home as long as these simple warnings are followed. Unfortunately accidents can happen the potential for those accidents happening can be significantly reduced or eliminated!! Just some friendly advice for you from Emerald.