Pool Safety

Child Safety at Swimming Pool with Quality Swimming Boca Raton

April showers bring May flowers, Memorial Day and the ushering in of summer, more importantly, the beginning of swim season.

This checklist is an important reminder of the dangers of unprotected swimming pools.  Our backyards can be an oasis from the sprawling city life and it’s fast pace.  Some simple planning and consideration into safety procedures can help keep our precious young ones safe.

Over the course of the last couple of years, our federal and state politicians have passed major legislation, in an attempt to save lives in public swimming pools.  These laws do very little to protect our children from thousands of backyard pools in South Florida.

Three hundred and fifty children, under the age of five, drown in pools every year, a needless tragedy that in most cases could have been prevented.  Fifty percent of drowning’s occur in backyard pools of neighbors, friends or family.

Remember, that it takes less than thirty seconds for a child to drown, and it is normally silent.  In the time it takes to answer the phone or a doorbell, tragedy can strike.  Let’s take a moment now to discuss some of the newer legislation, and safety items that may help you to protect your loved ones.

Main Drain Covers

New laws require a public pool or spa to have safer drain covers to prevent entrapment.  This law states that all drain covers and the fasteners used to secure them must be replaced every seven years.  Please know that a loose, broken or missing main drain cover is a huge danger that is easily repairable.  The older main drain covers do little to prevent entrapment. New style covers are designed to help prevent suction entrapment, mechanical entrapment, (fingers or limbs) hair entanglement and evisceration (removal of intestines by suction) caused by sitting on an unprotected drain.  Kids are curious by nature, and will do the strangest things when playing.

Main drain covers serve as the first layer of protection.  The new style covers offer much more protection than even covers that are only a couple of years old.  If you notice a broken, loose or missing drain cover, please disable the pool or spa pump and deny access until repaired.

Toys and Floats

As parents, we spend countless hours supervising our children to keep them safe.  We may adhere to strict rules to keep our little ones from harm’s way, but sometimes, what children do may be out of our control.  We have all seen a toddler drag a chair across a room to reach a cookie jar or something of interest that’s out of reach.  Use these same principles when organizing the back yard.  Never leave pool floats and toys floating in the pool.  Use caution when purchasing cute tablet floaters for the pool.  Sailboats, rubber duckies, toys and floats attract children poolside and increase the risk of a child falling in.  Toys and floats also may obstruct your view of the pool and a little one in trouble.

Fencing and Protective Barriers

Inspect your fences, gates and latches to insure proper operation.  Code requires a minimum of four foot fencing be installed around all pools, with self closing and self latching gates.  Gates should open outward or away from the pool with latches installed at a minimum height of 54 “ to keep children from gaining access.  Try to avoid putting flower pots and decorations next to these protective barriers as children will use them to climb over.

Doorways and Windows

If your house offers direct access to the pool thru doorways or windows, code calls for audible alarms to be installed to notify you of the possible dangers of a child wandering into the pool area.  These access points should have locks installed as high as possible to prevent unwanted entry.  Poolside alarms are also available to immediately warn you of an immersion incident.

Lighting

Swimming at night is strongly discouraged, for obvious reasons.  If swimming at night is allowed, adequate lighting must be available to illuminate every inch of the pool and deck area.  Supervision and awareness must be heightened and potential rescuers must remain poolside.

Swim Lessons

Many child safety advocates suggest formal swim lessons for infants as young as six months and continuing through their toddler years. Swim instructors not only teach swimming, but life saving techniques such as rolling into a floating position and monkey crawling (grasping the coping, hand over hand) to assist in reaching the staircase.  With a year round swim season due to climate and the numerous bodies of water in South Florida, swim lessons are a wise investment for the well being of your family that will offer a lifelong return.

Summer will soon be here, and with it the sounds of splashing coming from our backyards. Please keep these safety tips in mind, and remember even with layers of protection there is no substitute for constant adult supervision.  Please take a minute to look through some of the fliers sent to you this month, and realize that there are many, many more safety items and ideas that could not be sent or touched upon.

Shamrock Pool Services will be happy to demonstrate, explain or install any of these products for you; and as always free safety inspections can be provided.

If you have any questions, or would like more information on the products and codes mentioned in this letter please feel free to call me at 954-972-9648 or email me at terryshamrock2@aol.com.

Wishing you and your family a safe and fun swim season.

Sincerely,

Terry A. Nicholas

Service Manager

SHAMROCK POOL SERVICES, INC.
“Specializing in Commercial Service, Repair and Remodeling.”

1401 South State Road 7, Suite B-6, North Lauderdale, Florida 33068

Phone: (954) 972-9648  Fax: (954) 972-9436

Licensed and Insured

State License # CPC 1456863