Off-Season Pool Safety

Keep Your Pool Safe Year-Round

by Chris Rostad

The summer swim season has come and gone, but the thought of pool safety needs to be on the minds of pool owners all year round. In fact, an unprotected swimming pool can be more dangerous in the off-season than it is during the swim season.

In the colder months, children are wearing long pants, shoes, and a jacket or sweater. The extra clothing inhibits a child's swimming abilities. Even a child that has had swim lessons and is considered a good swimmer is not usually a strong enough swimmer to be able to stay afloat after accidentally entering a swimming pool. Most children under the age of 14 are not strong enough swimmers to allow them to save themselves after entering a swimming pool fully clothed. The coldness of the water can also be a contributing factor in inhibiting the child's ability to swim.

Statistics state that, nationally, drowning is the number one cause of accidental death of children 5 years old and younger, and the second leading cause for children under 14 years of age. California, unfortunately, leads the nation in swimming pool related injuries and death. Another fact most people don't know is that a swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be the cause of death in children age four and under. These tragedies are unnecessary and preventable.

Properly isolating the swimming pool from its surroundings can make a backyard with a pool nearly as safe as a backyard with no pool. Estimates predict that the widespread use of child-safe pool fencing would prevent 50%- 90% of pediatric pool drownings and near drownings. Putting a child safe fence around a pool not only protects children from accidental drowning, but also helps to give parents and caregivers "peace of mind" when children are playing in the backyard.

A swimming pool can be fun in the summer and safe all year round as long as it is properly protected. The rules of pool safety need to be adhered to year round. These include and are not limited to the following: * Never leave toys or floats in the pool when not in use, pool toys can attract children to the pool thus inviting tragedy.

* Keep tables and chairs away from the outside of pool safety fencing, these items might allow children to attempt to climb the fence to gain access to the pool area.

* Do not prop open any gate which is used to enter a pool area.

* Never leave any children unsupervised in or around a pool or spa area. It only takes a moment for a child to accidentally enter a pool and drown.