With the end of May fast approaching, many homeowners are preparing to open their pools for the season. As you get ready for summer fun, now is the time to take the important steps to protect everyone from accidents and drowning hazards, particularly children.
Everything in Its Place
All pools should be inspected for trip hazards, rough surfaces, slippery surfaces, sharp edges, rotted wood decks, rusted ladders and stairs, and damaged diving boards. Pumps, motors and filtration equipment should be checked and serviced. A full electric inspection is also advised. There should be no wiring (including extension cords) or receptacles anywhere near the pool and receptacle outlets supplying electricity to the pool areas and equipment should be protected with a special safety device called a Ground-Fault Circuit-Interrupter.
Accessibility
To reduce the risk of drowning, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends using as many layers of protection as possible, such as a fence with self-closing, self-latching gates completely surrounding pools to prevent unsupervised access by young children. If the house forms a side-of-a-pool barrier, use alarms on doors leading to the pool area or a safety cover over the pool.
Proper supervision is still the most important safety practice when it comes to pool safety for children. Drowning can occur in minutes. Many drowning incidents occur when young children are not expected to be near the pool area. Parents or childcare providers may think that if a child falls in the water, they will hear lots of splashing and screaming, and will be able to come to the rescue. Many times, however, children slip under the water silently.
Danger Comes in All Sizes
Accidents can happen in any pool; according to the CPSC drowning incidents involving portable or inflatable pools are rising. These pools often fall outside of local building codes that require any fencing or barriers. Many are often purchased by consumers without consideration for the critical safety features necessary to help protect young children from the dangers of pools.
Hot tubs and spas also present a concern. Whether built-in or freestanding units, hot tubs and spas present many of the same accident and drowning hazards as pools. With hot tubs, there is an added concern for over exposure to elevated water temperature.
Generally a maximum water temperature of 104° F (40° C) range is recommended for any long-term bathing. And due to the heated water, the control of bacteria is a health concern. The potential of hair entrapment from the suction at the return for the spa jets is another issue with hot tubs and spas, particularly with older or damaged units that do not have the proper grates over the return opening. Review all manufacturer recommendations and warnings regarding hot tub and spa operation.
It is important to always be prepared for an emergency by having rescue equipment and a phone near the pool. Also, all parents and childcare providers should learn basic first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
For more information about pool and spa safety, including recommendations on barriers, equipment hazards, and entrapment hazards go to the CPSC’s web site at www.cpsc.gov.
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