Pool Safety and Cost Savings

Here in Palm Beach County we recently installed a pool fence for a customer with two college age children; however, they lost their screen enclosure over their pool when Hurricane Wilma hit Palm Beach County. The customer's insurance did not even cover half of what a new screen enclosure would have cost. For several months the customer's Home Owners' Association had been threatening the customer with fines if he did not either fence in his pool or replace the screen enclosure. He had Pool Guard of Palm Beach County give him a quote to put a pool safety fence around the perimeter of his swimming pool deck. It literally cost the customer one quarter of the price to put a swimming pool safety fence around the pool as opposed to the cost of an aluminum perimeter fence. The customer decided to go with Pool Guard and have a pool fence installed and is very happy that he did. The pool fence did not obstruct his view of the lake and even more importantly, it can be removed if another hurricane hits. The customer's Home Owners' Association is happy and the customer says THANKS POOL GUARD!!

Submitted by Ray Pagano,
Pool Guard of Palm Beach County

A TRAGIC DROWNING - THIS ONE REALLY HITS HOME

A few weeks ago a 14 month old baby boy drowned in his grandparents' backyard swimming pool in Clearwater, Florida. This drowning made the local news and of course, as does every senseless drowning, made me shake my head because I know, as the manufacturer of pool safety fences, that every drowning is avoidable. Just yesterday I ran into an acquaintance and during the course of our conversation she told me that her nephew had recently passed away. Shocked, I asked her what happened and she told me that he drowned in his grandparents' swimming pool in Clearwater. That's when I realized that this is the baby I heard about on the news. There was no swimming pool fence around the swimming pool and there were many people at the house that tragic afternoon. No one person was designated to watch the baby and he slipped out the back door and fell into the pool. No adult realized he was missing until it was too late. This is such a senseless and unnecessary death....a pool safety fence would have saved this baby's life. The family is completely devastated and they have now had the pool filled in with concrete so that they're not reminded every day of the spot where little Jake died.

Over the years I've read about tragic drownings hundreds of times and worked on pool safety committees to bring awareness of the importance of a swimming pool safety fence to swimming pool owners, as well as those people who own a pool and have small children visit the house often. This is the first time, and hopefully the last, that the victim will be related to someone I know. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of this baby and my hope is, as always, that people will realize that they can make their pools safe and secure by placing a pool fence around the pool.

What can be done to baby proof our pool?

Every year, hundreds of young children in the United States drown and thousands more are hospitalized with brain damage or other injuries due to accidents in home swimming pools or spas. This is particularly tragic because most of these accidents could have been prevented with a few simple steps.

For starters, put a pool fence around your pool. It must be at least 4 feet high with no gaps wider than 3 inches. If you have an above-ground pool, be sure to remove or lock up the ladder when the pool isn't in use.

Inside your home, add latches to any doors and windows that lead outside. Get in the habit of using these latches at all times, make sure and ask your houseguests to do the same. If you have an alarm system in your home, set it on "Chime." This means the alarm system will make a chime sound if anyone opens a perimeter door or window, and alert you if your child tries to get out. If you're not sure whether your alarm system has this feature, ask your alarm company.

No matter what kind of alarm system you have for your pool or home, don't let your guard down. Even the best alarm is no substitute for a fence, latches, and most of all vigilance. Never let a young child go near a pool or spa without close adult supervision.

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 Guidelines

Pool Safety 101

• Pools should have layers of protection to prevent drowning
• Fences and walls should be at least 4 feet high
• Self-latching gates out of reach of children
• Alarms on doors, pool covers, motion-detectors
• Rescue equipment such as a pole, life ring etc.
• A phone by the pool area
• Pool area free from toys, chairs etc.

People Should

• Learn CPR and practice it Learn how to swim and never swim alone
• Learn FIRST RESPONDER skills
• Be aware of possible dangers
• Be responsible for safety features and watching children
• Never leave a child alone around water

Greatest Problems Causing Near Drowning or Drowning are:

• Lack of Adult Supervision
• Lack of Awareness, Training and Education
• No Lifeline in Place
• No trained Personnel Available for Response
• No Fence or Barrier
• Gates Left Open
• Lack of General Water Safety

Experts believe the installation of fences around household swimming pools could save the lives of some but not all of the nearly 600 toddlers who drown in the US every year.

Additional strategies to prevent drowning are also needed.

• An increase in the level of supervision of children by parents, older siblings and baby sitters would probably save the greatest number of young lives.
• Researchers believe adults need to be better educated as to the dangers posed by the family swimming pool.
• Children need to be made aware of the dangers of water as well as the pleasures.
• Adults need to become aware of the safety measures to take to keep their children safe and then take responsibility for the safety of their surroundings.

Water is a great source of enjoyment, however, it can, as well be a potential danger.

• All Caregivers who supervise children should receive training in Emergency Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and First Responder and First Aid Skills.
• Telephones and rescure equipment should be easily accessed from the pool area, providing a lifeline in place by the pool