The Importance of a Self Closing Pool Gate

Tonight, here in Tampa, one of our local news channels presented its annual awards to citizens who have made a difference in somebody's life. One of the winners was a 5 year old boy who saved his 2 year old sister's life when she fell into the family's swimming pool. This family had a pool fence; however, it had the old-fashioned fold-back gate and the fold-back gate was left in the open position. That is how the 2 year old got into the pool.

This incident, which could have turned deadly, would never have happened if the pool fence system had been installed with a self-closing, self-latching gate. . Many adults have access to the pool, i.e., pool service people, pool repair people and others. Too many times an adult walks away from the pool and leaves the fold-back gate in the open position. Parents, it is so important to realize that a self-closing gate makes a pool safety fence so much safer. The fence can never, ever accidentally be left open and a small child can never wander through the fence and fall into the swimming pool. There is absolutely no doubt that a self-closing gate is a necessity.

Pets Need Protection Too

The old saying that dog is man's best friend holds true. Many owners cherish their pets and I must admit I am one of those people. I have installed two pool fences in the past month for families with no children, but have elderly dogs that are prone to falling in the swimming pool. A pool safety fences is an excellent choice for protecting dogs and cats of all ages, especially when the pets are very young or very old. A dog's eyesight tends to become diminished after ten years of age. They need special care to prevent an accidental drowning. Pool Guard safety fences offer protection and peace of mind when caring for that faithful and loyal friend....the family pet. Keep your pets safe by installing a pool fence around your swimming pool.

Andy Hines
Pool Guard of Dallas

In The Nick of Time

Recently Marisela Montes, of POOL GUARD OF PUERTO RICO, was doing a presentation on the benefits of having a pool fence on the pool deck for a homeowner in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Approximately half way through the presentation on the pool deck, the homeowners' small son wandered around behind his parents during the discussion of whether they should have a pool net or a pool safety fence installed and the three year old fell into the pool. Without hesitation, Marisela grabbed the child and pulled him out of the water. The shaken parents immediately asked how quickly could the installation of a pool fence occur. The next day the pool fence was installed, along with a self-closing gate. Another pool protected by POOL GUARD OF PUERTO RICO, another child who is now safe and two very relieved parents.

Marisela Montes
Pool Guard of Puerto Rico

Pool Safety - Up Close & Personal

While installing a pool fence at a house where the owners were in the process of moving in I had the misfortune of experiencing first hand the dangers of pools and children. Setting up to drill the holes I had marked out on the deck surface I observed a child approximately 5 years of age playing in the yard close to the patio. I thought nothing of him being out in the yard as long as he was a fair distance from my work area and I figured his parents were keeping an eye on him. As I was preparing the work area I heard a splash behind me. The child had moved quickly to the pool area and apparently lost his balance playing with a toy near the pool or tried reaching the toy which had fallen into the water. The child clearly could not swim and was in the deep end of the pool, fighting to keep his head above water. There was panic all over his face. I had laid down on the surface next to the water and reached as far as I could as quickly as I could. I could see he was still within my reach and I did not have to jump in. His face had submerged a few times below the surface before I grabbed him and pulled him towards me. He had taken no water into his lungs, but was a very scared little boy. The parents had seen none of this as they were busy unpacking the home they had just moved into. Needless to say, they were very upset when they answered the door and I handed them their drenched child. They learned a lesson that day and the piece of mind could not have come quicker for them when the pool fence was completed a few hours later.

Parents should always schedule the installation of their pool fence as close to their moving date as possible. As this example shows, moving day can be hectic and children are curious about the new swimming pool. Let's not give them a chance to approach the pool without a pool fence already in place.

Pool Guard of Las Vegas
Steven Powell

Pool Fences and Handicapped Children

It's natural for people to associate a swimming pool safety fence with a baby or toddler and keeping them safe around the backyard swimming pool; however, a pool fence can keep others safe as well.

Over the years we've installed many pool fences for people with handicapped children. While those children may have been older than toddler age, they are also as vulnerable, if not more so, to an accident. Parents of handicapped children have recognized the need to protect their pool from their children accidentally moving their wheelchair too close to the edge of the pool or a freak accident that could occur. A pool fence can and does protect those who can't protect themselves. Parents of handicapped children have told us time and time again how relieved they are to know that their children are protected when around the pool area. As you can see, a pool fence can save lives in so many different ways.

Natural Disasters and Pool Safety

Here in San Diego we recently have experienced one of the worst natural disasters in Southern California's history - uncontrollable wildfires. This has posed a number of problems concerning pool safety.

The first deals with individuals whose homes have burned and are now unlivable. I personally experienced this myself when I lived in New Orleans and my home was damaged due to Hurricane Katrina. The first thing I did as far as home restoration was concerned was to secure my pool area. My family was not living in the home, but other children in the neighborhood were still living there and could access my pool with very little trouble. I immediately had a pool fence installed, secure in the fact that a pool fence would keep neighborhood children safe from an accidental drowning. I would strongly recommend anyone who has a pool in the San Diego area and has suffered damage to their home and was forced to evacuate the home to contact Pool Guard and allow us to help you secure your pool by installing pool fences.

Additionally, if you decide to drain your pool while construction is occurring, I would suggest having a swimming pool safety fence installed to prevent a child from falling into the swimming pool.

Koy Nichols
Pool Guard of San Diego

How Pool Fences Can Prevent Accidents....

Even when a child knows how to swim!

Recently a five year old boy who knew how to swim fell into his backyard swimming pool. When he fell in he was wearing his clothing and shoes and he panicked and was not able to swim. Luckily, the little boy's father was nearby and pulled him out of the pool and administered mouth-to-mouth resucitation.

Pool Guard installed the pool fence around the pool on the very day the little boy was released from the hospital. I have always told customers to keep the pool fence in place because children can panic; however, I had never thought about clothing and shoes making it harder for a small child to swim to safety. The parents of this five year old have no intention of ever taking the pool fence down.

Pool Guard of South Florida
Greg Young

Last Minute Holiday Gift

I recently received a call from the grandparents of a small child who realized at the last minute that their out of state grandson, who cannot swim, would be visiting for the holidays and that they have a swimming pool without protection. The big problem they were trying to solve was that it was Christmas Eve. Their son and family were on their way to Tampa and they couldn't get a pool fence company on the phone, let alone a company to install a fence at the last minute.

In a panic the homeowner asked her neighbor who installed her pool fence. The neighbor found her Pool Guard warranty paperwork on which I had written my cell phone number on and gave it to her. She called and explained her dilemma. We were about to close for the holidays, but I felt it wouldn't be right to not help a customer on Christmas Eve. I agreed to come directly to her with an installation truck to make sure the pool fence was installed on time. We finished installing the pool safety fence shortly after her grandson arrived. The customer was extremely happy and Pool Guard of Tampa Bay made a raving fan for life.

Kevin Post
Pool Guard of Tampa Bay

Pool Fences for Puppies

Nydia called us for a quote for a pool fence because she was worried about her "babies". Upon arrival and several minutes of idle chat we were introduced to her 'babies' - dogs to be exact and six of them that have a strong liking of the swimming pool in the hot Puerto Rico sun. Her concern was a common one. Two of the dogs were getting a little on the higher age side and she found one treading water last week and it startled her. She was worried about what would have happened if she had not found her dog in time. After a brief consultation with regard to the needs of securing the entire pool from the 'babes in the sun' an order was placed and the pool fence will be installed next week. Nydia has found the solution to keeping the dogs safe - a pool fence to protect them.

Jason Nash
Pool Guard of Puerto Rico

Pool Fence Installation on Thin Pavers

Recently I met with a customer who had been told by several competing pool safety fence companies that a pool fence was not an option for them because their pool builder used thin pavers in the construction of their pool deck. Thin pavers when installed over soil or crushed concrete are not stable enough to safely hold a pool fence in place when using standard installation methods. The other companies apparently lacked the skill or knowledge level necessary to recommend an advanced installation method utilized by Pool Guard for just this type of situation.

Pool Guard's method for this type of installation reinforced the entire installation, making it sturdy, safe and aesthetically pleasing. The customer was extremely happy, passed their pool inspection with flying colors and ended up writing a positive review of their experience with Pool Guard on Angie's List. Angie's List is a website that rates area service companies. Pool Guard of Tampa Bay currently has a perfect "A" rating. Pool Guard of Tampa Bay also has a perfect rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Kevin Post
Pool Guard of Tampa Bay

Proactive Safety

On Sat. 9/1 a five year old drowned and died in Miramar. It was not the home owner’s child but a friend of theirs. We did an estimate a month and a half ago for someone that live four doors down. They have now called and are wanting to us to put the fence in right away. The home owners of the incident are wanting a pool fence now as well. It is a shame that someone has to die for people to realize the importance of a safety fence for swimming pools.

Water Safety Tips from California's Consumnes Fire Department

The Fire Department in Cosumnes, California has provided several tips to insure that your children are safe this summer while near water:

• Designate an adult to keep thier eyes on the water and the kids during social gatherings.
• Learn CPR. Every second counts in an emergency.
• Know which friends and neighbors have swimming pools. Make sure your child will be supervised by an adult when visiting their pool.
• Install pool fencing around home swimming pools.
• Don't rely on pool alarms and pool covers as primary pool safety equipment. They should be used along with pool fencing and supervison.
• Children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water. Wading pools, bathtubs, buckets, diaper pails, toilets, spas and hot tubs can be dangerous.
• Avoid playing around pool drains as these can be dangerous with or without a cover. Long hair can become tangled in filtering hardware.
• Borrow a life jacket. Some of the local fire houses have them available to loan in adult and child sizes for free.

Pool Guard Pool Fence Distributors in California:

• Pool Guard of San Diego
• Pool Guard of Orange County
• Pool Guard of the Inland Empire
• Pool Guard of Sacramento
• Pool Guard of Northern California
• Pool Guard of Bakersfield, California
• Pool Guard of the Bay Area
• Pool Guard of Greater Sacramento and Northern California
• Pool Guard if Ventua / Santa Barbara
• Pool Guard of Los Angeles
  

Pool Safety Bill Encourages States To Adopt Pool Safety Laws

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz has introduced a new bill designed to put pool safety fences around all swimming pools, hot tubs and whirlpools. Her main purspose of this proposed legislation is to raise the nation's awareness of pool safety.

U.S. Rep. Wasserman Schultz became alarmed by the number of pool drowning deaths when she served in the Florida Legislature. She pushed through a state law in Florida that required all new residential swimming pools to be built with one of four safety features:

• Pool barrier fence
• Pool cover, such as a pool net
• Exit alarms on all doors or windows with pool access
• Self-closing, self latching pool gates

Pool Guard was behind this particular piece of pool safety legislation when it was first proposed in Florida. Pool Guard also supports the new legislation to require pool safety fences around all swimming pools, hot tubs and whirlpools. With over 600 swimming pool drowning deaths for children under age 4 in Florida, we know all too well that the best way to prevent a pool drowning is to provide additional layers of protection such as a pool fence.

Sacramento Sees 9 Pool Drownings or Near Drownings Since April 1

From the News 10 ABC article, "Family Recounts Toddler's Near Drowning".

"Since April 1, there have been nine drownings or near drownings of children in pools and spas in the Sacramento area. "

A decision to purchase a pool fence or a pool net for your swimming pool is wise and responsible. Drowning can occur in as little as three seconds and is a leading cause of accidental death in children under five years of age. Additionally, each year there are many young victims of near drowning who require emergency room treatment, many of whom suffer permanent damage. A majority of children who are involved in these tragic accidents have been missing from sight for a very short period of time and were last seen in the home. Even though there is no substitute for adult supervision, a pool fence or net provides an additional layer of protection between a precious child and a pool which helps guard against disaster.

Adam Horn
Pool Guard of Sacramento
916-673-3152

Pool Fences Are The Only Barrier With Proven Effectiveness

KTNV ABC Channel 13 released an article on their site, "Plan a Satisfying -- and Safe -- Summer of Pool Enjoyment". The article talks about how constant adult supervision is vital in saving your child from drowning in the pool. The article also notes that in addition to adult supervision, pool fences or pool barriers with a properly functioning pool gate can provide a second layer of security.

"Pool fences can give parents the time they need to realize their child is missing and to re-establish eye-to-eye contact."

Station KTNV has hit the nail on the head. One of the most important factors dealing with swimming pool safety is 'safer water'. A pool fence or pool barrier placed around a swimming pool definitely creates not only 'safer water', but 'safer children'.

Additionally, Pool Guard utilizes the D&D Technologies magna-latch on every Pool Guard self-closing, self-latching, walk-thru gate it manufactures. A self-closing gate renders a pool fence safer because the pool fence can never accidentally be left open.

Child Drowning Prevention - Real Life Story

At Pool Guard, we are on the business of putting up pool safety fences and the more we stress to our customers how important it is to be safe the less they want to spend.

A couple of weeks ago we got a phone call to do an estimate at a house in Plantation, Florida. We did the estimate and the homeowner told us that an child had drowned and he/she was in coma. We installed their pool fence and a few days later we got another phone call to do an estimate at the same neighborhood. We went there, the homeowners were away at the hospital, we only communicated with them by phone, and then we found out that their son was at the hospital.

We put 2 and 2 together, and sure enough they were the parents of the child that near drown.

We later found out that that they HAD the pool fence but never put up (paid somebody to install). We had them scheduled to install the fence today, my installer gets there this morning and we found out that the child had died.

As a mother my heart is broken, I can not explain the pain and my sympathy to this family enough; but I am also angry because this situation could have been prevented.

Do you want to know what is even worse? We did an estimate for this child’s uncle best friend and we found out that a few years ago the uncle lost a child (also drowned in the pool) and now this one dies. This is the second death in this family due to drowning and even after the child drowned and while in coma, the parents were shopping for the best price on the pool fence installation.

This is crazy.

The Young Family

Swimming Pool Safety Rules

YOUR CHILD’S LIFE IS VALUABLE…GUARD IT CAREFULLY THIS SUMMERTIME

Summertime is fast approaching. School will be out and vacation time begins. Be sure you have developed an Annual Spring Checklist for all the Safety concerns you want to avoid with the coming outdoor pool season.

Swimming Pool Safety Tips:

• Be sure the list of Pool Rules is posted and updated and in an obvious place for all to see.
• Remove and store all pool chemicals, equipment, hoses, and clamps etc in a safe locked storage area for use when you need them.
• Be sure any buckets are not filled with water or chemicals.
• Use protective electrical covers for all outlets, both inside and outside of your home.
• Check the hinges and latches, in particular to the pool or hot tub gate. Be sure they all latch well; it’s pretty easy for little fingers to manipulate a loosely attached latch.
• Be sure all electrical appliances are away from any water sources which may cause an electrical shock.
• Maintain a life ring with rope near the pool or a long pole to use to reach someone who may be in trouble in the water.
• Be sure the seasons life jackets are in good repair and ready to use, especially the ones for the little ones.
• If children are swimming in the pool be sure an adult is present to watch them. Contact your pool company that installed your safety fence and ask them if they do an annual safety check.Then schedule one if they do.

Pool Safety Fence Research

DON’T TAKE SOMEONE ELSES WORD FOR IT….RESEARCH YOURSELF

It only takes a moment and a few inches of water to create a deadly combination, a child could drown. Don’t have a swimming pool? A pool fence should also enclose the area around a hot tub or outdoor spa area as well.

Before deciding which pool contractor to use we suggest: Call the Better Business Bureau in your area to see if there are any adverse comments or issues with the company, ask the company for references, photos if at all possible with permission to contact the consumers they have done work for and an opportunity to see first hand the company’s most recent work.

Interview different swimming pool fence contractors and gauge which one you are most comfortable with. Whose work seems to stand out among the rest? Who provided you with the best overall information and services? Are their swimming pool fencing products guaranteed? Which fencing company is providing you the best prices to meet your needs?