Pool Dangers And Drowning Prevention

Owning a pool in your home can be very exciting and loads of fun, giving you hours of happy family time and get togethers, not to mention pool parties, or simply relaxing by yourself over a weekend to rest and unwind after a hard week of working. However, when it comes to homes with little children, the pool can be the number one danger in the home.

We don’t know why, but swimming pools seem to have an irresistible fascination for little children, and as such studies have shown that drowning in pools is the number one cause of death in children between 1-4 years of age. Maybe it is the calmness of the water, rippling lightly in the breeze or the beautiful blue colour, but little children are drawn to the pool. This is why having safety measures around the pool is a legal requirement in Australia, and if you are thinking of buying a new house with a pool, you should first ensure that a pool inspection in Sydney has been carried out and the owner or seller has got a certificate of conformity to prove that their pool adheres to the legal requirements.

Children can go towards a pool and fall into it when there is no one around, or while they are playing outside. The fascination of the swimming pool is just too much for them, and no end of warnings given to children will actually be heard by them. Hence it is our duty as responsible parents to ensure that adherence to the pool safety regulations are followed to perfection.

So, what are the safety requirements around a pool?

• Fencing – Whether you have an in-ground pool or inflatable pool, you need to have a proper fencing around it, which is at least 1,200 mm high. There should not be any gaps under the fencing or between the horizontal or vertical rails where a child can crawl through and approach the pool. Fencing should not have any footholds or handholds where a child can climb over it and get to the pool. During a pool inspection in Sydney, a certified inspector will check all of this, and if they feel that the fencing does not adhere to the set standards, they will make recommendations and give the owners time to rectify the issues. After the time period is over, they will once again do an inspection of the pool to confirm that the issues brought up earlier have been sorted to satisfaction.
• Pool gates – Pool gates must be secured properly and these latches must be located at least 1,500 mm above the ground or 1400 mm above the top of horizontal rails. In the alternative, the gate latch can be located on the inside of the fence. These pool gates should open away from the pool and never towards it, and should never be propped open. It is advisable to have self-latching locks on the gates, so that even if someone accidentally forgets to latch it, it will lock automatically.
• Alarms – You will not hear any sound when a child is drowning, and do not think for a minute that the child will scream out to you. Drowning can be very silent, and this is the greatest danger of all, because no one will know that the child is drowning in the pool until it is too late. One thing you can do is add a pool alarm system, which sounds off when there are significant ripples in the water or set up an alarm on the pool gate. This way you will be alerted if there is any unusual activity in or near the pool.
• Keep the pool area toy free – When the swimming pool is not in use, in addition to keeping the pool gate tightly locked, you should ensure that there are no toys or other play things in the surrounding area. These are things that can attract a child’s attention and make them want to go near the pool.
• Pool covers – Another option to provide greater safety for your family is to have a pool cover. However, it must be noted that a pool cover should be able to cover the entirety of the pool, and not just a part of it, so if you have a considerably sized pool then you will need a cover of the same size, if not slightly larger. In addition to this, there should be no water retention on the cover as well. One of the best options for pool covers are the motorized options.

Even with all these safety measures in place, sometimes you may not be able to prevent a child from going near the swimming pool when no one is around. If a child is missing for some time, first check by the pool or any other water source. It is also a good idea for the adults in the house to get proper CPR and life saving training, and also to provide swimming lessons to both children and adults.

However, prevention is best, and getting a pool inspection in Sydney will ensure that your pool safety measures are according to the standards set by the law and local council regulations. Remember, although fun is good, safety should always come first.