Peak swimming season is here! For pool owners, this is the time you’ll be enjoying your slice of Central Florida paradise the most – along with your family and friends. However, this is also the time to be the most vigilant about making sure everyone stays safe in and around your pool. Of course, the following precautions apply throughout the year, but with increased activity comes a greater chance of a mishap or a few distracted minutes having tragic results.
Please read and refer to this guide to swimming pool safety. Even if you’re a longtime pool owner and think you know the basics, it doesn’t hurt to take a refresher course – and may even save a life! We thank the American Red Cross, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and WaterSmartFL for the following valuable information.
General Pool Safety
Walk, don’t run – Never run near a swimming pool. Slipping on a wet concrete pool deck can cause severe injury.
Don’t dive in the shallow end – or allow others to do it – Diving injuries can have a lifetime of consequences.
No roughhousing – Drownings can occur during rough play in the pool, especially with young children. Don’t allow kids (or adults who should know better) to jump on each other in the pool, or hold anyone underwater.
Get out of the water and go indoors when you hear thunder – Florida is the lightning capital of the United States. Even if it isn’t raining in your immediate area and the sound of thunder seems distant, lighting is close enough to strike. Stay inside at least 30 minutes after you hear the last sound of thunder. You may not want to pause the fun, but it’s better to be safe than sorry – or worse!
Avoid drains and covers – Even when properly equipped, pool drains and covers can be hazardous. Entrapments occur when someone or something becomes stuck to these drains or suctions and pose a serious danger to young children who are too small to break away. If you are a pool owner, inspect your drains and covers regularly to ensure proper function.
Never swim alone – Even accomplished swimmers can experience a medical emergency or some other type of distress that leaves them unable to get out of the pool. The risk of drowning greatly increases when a swimmer is alone.
Know and Practice Water Safety Skills
Unfortunately, many people believe their swimming skills are better than they really are. Getting into a bad situation in the water isn’t the time to find out otherwise.
Make sure that you and every member of your family learns to swim in order to achieve skills of water competency – such as being able to enter the water, get a breath, stay afloat, change position, swim a distance then get out of the water safely. According to an American Red Cross survey, 85 percent of Americans say they know how to swim, but only slightly more than half can perform all five of following skills that can save their life in the water:
- Enter water that’s over your head, then return to the surface.
- Float or tread water for at least one minute.
- Turn over and turn around in the water.
- Swim at least 25 yards without stopping.
- Exit the water.
The American Red Cross website has a helpful resource page to access free online water safety courses, and to find swim classes in your location. Click here to learn more.
Knowing CPR and first aid will help you save a life. The American Red Cross offers classes in these vital procedures, as well.
Also, know your limitations – including physical fitness and medical conditions. And while “adult beverages” are often part of a pool party, alcohol and swimming don’t mix! The detrimental effects of alcohol on judgment and physical coordination – both of which are necessary to swim safely – are well-documented.
Drain and Suction Safety
Pool drains are dangerous because the suction they generate can trap swimmers – particularly children – leading to serious injuries or drowning. This suction can cause body entrapment – in which a body part, limb, or even a torso becomes trapped against the drain. Additionally, hair, jewelry and swimsuits can be pulled into a drain’s suction. Instruct children to stay away from drains, and install an anti-entrapment drain cover if you haven’t already done so.
Supervising Children in and Around the Pool
Always watch children when they’re in or near water, and never leave them unattended. Designate an official “water watcher” – an adult tasked with supervising children in the water. That should be their only task – they shouldn’t be reading, texting or playing games on their phone.
It’s a dangerous assumption that if there are many adults on the pool deck, there are many eyes watching the children in the pool. There is a saying that’s tragically proven to be true: “If everyone’s watching the children, no one’s watching the children.”
Have Swimming Pool Barriers in Place – What Florida State Law Requires
The Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act (Chapter 515, Florida Statutes) requires pool safety measures for pools built after October 1, 2000. It is the intent of the Legislature that all new residential swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs be equipped with at least one pool safety feature as specified below:
- A pool fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate – enclosing the pool and providing no direct access to it.
- An approved pool cover which is fitted to your pool; a simple canvas covering can be a drowning hazard and can entrap a child in the water.
- Alarms on all doors and windows leading out to the pool.
- A self-closing, self-latching device on all doors that provide direct access from the home to the pool; the release mechanism must be no lower than 54 inches above the floor.
The Florida Department of Health recommends, at a minimum, using a combination of the barriers described above to help ensure your pool is equipped with approved safety features.
The Take-Home Message
Owing a pool is a big responsibility that goes far beyond cleaning and maintaining the pool itself. Protecting the safety and life of everyone who uses the pool – as well as those on your property – is essential. Your pool should be associated with fun and happy memories. Putting pool safety first will keep it that way!
As for pool maintenance, looking out for signs of a leak is a necessity throughout the year. Certified Leak Detection uses technology and techniques we have developed over 20 years in business. In addition to quick detection and repair of swimming pool leaks, we provide industry-leading leak detection and repair for spas and hot tubs, as well as fountains. Serving areas throughout Central Florida – including Orlando, Longwood, Lake Mary, Sanford, Kissimmee, Clermont and Winter Springs – our team is ready to answer your call.
Contact us for quick, reliable service!