Pool Fence Gate Safety

Pool fences are only as strong as the pool gate itself

Pool gates are the most overlooked feature of pool fencing. Pool fence gates, however, are most critical to pool fence effectiveness and home pool child protection. Pool fences, in truth, are only as safe as the pool gate.

In a 2001 study, not many but most children ages 1 to 4 years old were drowned at home in pools while not one but both parents were home and within a short five minute window (Brenner et al. 2001).

If by modern standards extremely good parental supervision cannot save young children from drowning then clearly providing signs, restricting swimming areas and closing sliding glass doors are not enough.

Secure pool fence gates improve pool fence child barrier safety

The strength of a pool fence gate is an ideal measure of overall pool fence safety.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: Preventing a child from getting to a pool through a pool fence gate can be done by restricting the sizes of openings in the pool gate barrier and using self-closing and self-latching gates.

Consider all pool access points to a swimming pool

Pool Guard Pool Fencing recommends parents and pool owners consider all pool access points to a swimming pool and ensure there are adequate safety gates for each one -and not just a main entrance. Often pools require more than one pool gate. One gate may lead to the house, another gate to a yard and other gating to an outbuilding and so on. Protect your family and secure your pool safety gates.

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