24 October 2022

From Our Friends at Nereids — A Checklist for Home Pools and Child Safety

Swimming is beneficial for children; however, children are vulnerable to fatal and non-fatal accidents in swimming pools. If you want your children to reap the benefits of swimming without worrying about their safety, here is a checklist of the things to consider when building your own home pool. If you already have one, know if your pool checks all items in the list.

How to build child-safe pools

  • Ensure construction integrity

A crucial element to consider in pool construction is electrical systems. You will be needing electricity to power pool equipment, like heaters, to have the perfect temperature for your pool water.  You will also be using pool lights for evening use, pool pumps, and water filters. With that, you should consider enlisting professional help to ensure your pool’s electrical system will not compromise your family’s safety.

  • Install pool safety equipment

Make sure your pool has alarms. Gate alarms are easy to install and it will warn you when your pool gate opens. A more expensive device is a perimeter alarm that uses infrared and light beams to detect movement. You should position the alarm beams according to your child’s height. Floating sensors are also useful to detect if someone who weighs more than fifteen pounds enters the pool.

  • Design safe areas around the pool

Make sure your children will not accidentally fall into the water by putting up a fence at least 4-feet high. It should have a self-locking and self-latching feature with the lock and latch out of children’s reach. You may also opt for a removable pool fencing made of mesh which you can store away when only adults are going to use the pool.  Adding a pool cover is an effective way to make sure no kid gets into the pool by accident. The cover is secured to the pool deck and aside from kids’ protection, it also functions to keep rainwater and other dirt off the pool

  • Check chemical levels in the pool water

Make sure to use the right amount of chlorine when disinfecting your pool water. You may also opt for other forms of disinfection such as copper-silver ionization. You may consult experts to achieve a more natural and friendly way to disinfect your pool water.

How to ensure children’s safety when swimming

  • Set up swimming rules

Before you let your children enjoy the waters, make sure you set up rules for them to follow. Make them understand both the fun and the danger of being in the water. Awareness and familiarization are key to making them understand this. They have to be aware and familiar with the feeling of floating, sinking, and holding their breath so they understand how water affects body functions. 

  • Teach them how to swim

Swimming is a life-skill. Teaching your children how to swim will lessen the chances of them being in a water accident. If you don’t have the time to teach them yourself,  swimming lessons could help. As mentioned, you have to work on your kids getting familiar with the water so a great option is to have these lessons in your own pool since your child will be here frequently. 

  • Learn CPR and first-aid

In the event of an accident, knowing how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid treatments can save your child or anybody else’s life.  Make sure you receive proper training for it because treatment for children and adults are different. 

Follow this list to ensure the best and safest water experience for your children. Remember that these water guidelines are approved by The Natural Pool Company who has been behind the construction and maintenance of swimming pools in the domestic and commercial pool market.