Having a pool in your backyard is bliss; there’s no doubt about it. Being able to take a refreshing dip during an absolute scorcher of a day is divine, and throwing a pool party on the weekend is pretty fun, too. Lounging on a flotation chair, reading a book, or listening to tunes. Having friends over for a splash during those long summer afternoons.
There are so many benefits to owning a pool. But if you have kids, their safety is paramount. And childproofing your backyard pool is a must if you have kids or even if kids come over to visit. Whether they’re your children, nieces, nephews, or the neighbor’s kids, you’ve got to invest in safety for the pool. This helpful article will share our top practical tips for childproofing your backyard pool so you can rest assured that everyone is safe and sound. Read on to learn more.
Pool Fencing
If you want to add a pool to your backyard, then you must invest in secure pool fencing; there’s no way around this. In fact, more often than not, you’ll find that local laws mandate that any pool with water deeper than 30cm must have secure fencing enclosing it. The type of fencing you choose can vary widely, from glass to steel to perforated and everything in between, but you must have it. This is the frontline child safety measure for pools in the backyard.
Your pool fencing should ideally also be fitted with a latched gate, with the latch being out of reach for young children. This means that they shouldn’t be able to access the pool without an adult to let them in. In addition to keeping your kids safe, if you have pets, a secure fence will also keep them away from danger. So, if you’re getting a pool installed this summer, ensure that you have also made considerations for secure pool fencing.
Pool Fence Safety Features
You need to ensure that your pool fence has the following for maximum child safety:
- It needs to be at least 1.2 metres high
- Robust, secure and well-maintained
- Self-closing, self-latching child, proof gate, which is 1.5 meters high
- No gaps that a kid can fit through
Other Access Points
Consider if there are other access points to the pool in the home. For instance, do any windows open up to the backyard and bypass the fencing? If you have a garage with a rear entrance, does it face the pool?
On this same note, you need to ensure that all potential access points are lockable and are kept locked at all times. Perform a lap of your backyard and home and check for any potential entry points to the pool. If they aren’t equipped with a lock, you need to install one post haste.
Pool Cover
A pool cover can be a great safety and utility feature, but it needs to work in tandem with the other childproofing tips mentioned in this article, not instead of them. Any pool cover needs to be sturdy enough to hold a child’s weight in case a kid bypasses the fence and gate and accidentally falls in the pool.
Alongside being a great safety measure for families with younger kids and even pets that spend plenty of unsupervised time in their backyard, a pool cover can also greatly reduce the risks of debris falling into your pool and staining the walls or even getting clogged in your filtration system. If you want to extend the life of your swimming pool, then a pool cover is guaranteed to be a great investment for you.
Climbing Points
The next tip is to check your backyard for potential items or points that a child could climb the fence with. For instance, are there pot plants, trees, storage boxes, BBQs, chairs, tables, or any other items that a curious kid could climb on top of to get over the fence? Then, be sure to remove these items immediately or secure them in a garage.
Yes, it might be annoying to move them out when you want to use them, like, for instance, the BBQ or outdoor seating and dining areas. But compare that to the risk of a kid drowning, and it’s a small effort to make. And if you need some tips on how to remove climbing points without impeding on the convenience or aesthetics of your pool and wider landscape design, then be sure to take some inspo from this guide on how you can transform your pool area into a beautiful, safe, and ultimately functional backyard living space.
Supervision
When the kids are using the pool, utilize the following guidelines for their safety. Kids aged 7 or under should be within arm’s reach at all times, which means that you need to be in the pool with them. For older kids, provided they are confident swimmers, they can be in the pool by themselves, but they need to be within your sight at all times. This means that you watch them like a hawk and aren’t on your phone, reading a book, or otherwise distracted.
If you can’t guarantee that your kids will have total supervision during their outdoor pool time, then don’t let them in for a swim – even if they’re adamantly asking for it. It’s just not worth gambling with their health and well-being, even if it does happen to be perfect pool weather. Parents can get distracted during summer days, and the last thing you want is to have an emergency situation on your hands while you’re watching the kids on your own. So, if you feel like you’ll need to tag team it, then just wait until you have some support. If your partner is home, you can take turns to watch the kids in the pool while the other parent relaxes.
Lock Chemicals Away
Finally, the last tip is to ensure that all the pool cleaning and treatment chemicals, such as chlorine and pool cleaning equipment, are stored under lock and key. It should be kept in a locked garage or a storage tub that has a secure and sturdy padlock fitted to it. Ensure these items are kept locked away at all times when not in use by adults.
And if you have older kids who are taking on more responsibility around the house, then be sure that they’re aware of your chemical pool supplies, where they’re kept, and how they’re meant to be handled. That way, they can offer their support in keeping these supplies safe and firmly away from their younger brothers and sisters. They will also have the knowledge they need to respond in the event that these chemicals are accessed by younger kids or even pets.
A Pool Safety Summary
This helpful article has shared the top practical tips for childproofing your backyard pool. Follow these tips to ensure a safe and secure pool environment for your children or any kids who happen to visit you.
