According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drowning is the third most prevalent cause of deaths resulting from unintentional injury globally. Swimming pool tragedies happen in thousands of households across America annually. That majority of these tragedies happens in residential setups and involves children is a pointer towards lack or improper use of pool barriers. Kids can get curious about the sparkling ripples and slip away, even from the most watchful parent. Safety professionals in Keller say that aside from scheduling a pool repair or maintenance service every few months or so, having a safety barrier is one of the best ways to increase safety.
Statistics Paint the Picture
A grim statistic from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is that drowning is a pool or spa accounts for an average of 390 deaths annually. Residential pools attribute for 74% of fatal swimming pool accidents in the period between 2015 and 2017. For children below 15 years, the majority (75%) of drowning happened at private residence pools. These figures show that residential pools are death traps if the necessary measures are not taken.
Barrier Regulations in Keller
The city of Keller has several regulations that guide the fencing of residential pools. Any installation of a new fence or replacement of an old one requires a license. However, the most striking thing is that fences should be designed such that unauthorized entry is almost impossible. The fence should be at least four feet high, and the gaps should not be greater than four inches in diameter. So, does your barrier/fence meet these standards?
Recommended Barrier Varieties
While barriers may not be childproof, they help cover for the supervision lapses that are bound to occur. When thinking about a barrier, the first thing that comes to mind is a fence. If the home forms one side of the fence, you can install a door alarm on every door to the pool. Make sure these doors have self-locking devices that children cannot reach. It is recommendable to have another layer of protection- a pool cover. Keller stores have all manner of styles to suit different tastes. Maintain the good condition of the covers and make sure the control devices are always out of reach of children.
Some Extra Tips for Parents
Children can be adventurous to the point of trying to go past the pool barrier. Barriers that have footholds and handholds or are too low are a cause for concern. You need to call an expert for pool repair service Keller to eliminate such loopholes. Getting a water watcher is also a good idea, especially when you know that you may not be attentive always. Life jackets are also advisable if the kid is around the pool, especially when such a facility is in a place you are visiting. Other precautions that can avert disaster around a pool are cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training for the caregivers or parents and swim lessons for children as early as possible.
If you did not have an appropriate barrier to your residential pool before, it would be safer to have one as soon as possible. Even if you do not have vulnerable users in your home, you never know when a friend comes with a child. If your pool is damaged, look for professional pool repair services in your area so you won’t have to worry about pool safety again.
