For many families, a sparkling swimming pool is the perfect backyard feature to counter summer’s sizzling heat — while having some family fun, too. But how can you keep everyone safe?

Yes, although backyard pools can provide soothing respite from soaring temperatures, they can also be dangerous, especially for young children.

For instance, did you know that drowning is the leading cause of death¹ in children ages 1 to 4? Or that every year in the United States there are over 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths.²

By following the right safety measures, however, you can have fun in your backyard pool and still be safe this summer. Here are some tips to help you maximize your swimming pool safety.

Make access to water difficult

Kids often can’t wait to jump into the water and very young children in particular are drawn to it — but make sure that access to a backyard swimming pool is under the watchful eyes of adults. Barriers that allow adults to control access are key.

To help keep children safe, experts recommend enclosing pools with a non‑climbable fence at least 48 inches tall, along with gates that self‑close and self‑latch.

In addition, pool owners should consider having an alarm on a pool gate. A gate alarm means that you are immediately notified — even at a distance, if it is not secured. You might even want to look into installing a pool alarm that notifies you when the water’s surface is broken, so that you can respond immediately.

Designate a "water watcher"

We all know that children should never be left unattended in or near water. But assuming that everyone is watching means no one is watching.

Unlike what is often portrayed in media, drowning can happen silently and quickly. Rarely is a person in distress thrashing in the water or yelling for help.

Having an adult designated as the "water watcher" is one way to ensure that someone always has eyes on the pool. The designated individual should refrain from distractions (including reading or using their phone). A waterproof badge can be helpful to remind others that the watcher is "on duty" and shouldn’t be distracted.

Restrict diving

If you decide that diving is allowed, make sure that swimmers understand the pool’s designated diving area. Swimmers should only dive in the diving zone, steer clear of the area when someone is preparing to dive, and refrain from diving at night or when there are obstructions in the water (e.g., floats or other swimmers).

Prioritize swimming lessons

Learning how to swim is perhaps one of the most important life skills to acquire. Unfortunately, almost 40 million adults in the United States³ do not know how to swim and over half have never taken a swimming lesson.

When parents and children learn critical, age-appropriate water safety skills not only will they be more comfortable in the water, but also they will know the basic skills needed to minimize the risks of accidental drowning. And, while you might be surprised that your little one seems like a “fish in water,” learning how to swim doesn’t mean children should swim without adult supervision.

Check the pool first

Remember, when it comes to a potential drowning, time is of the essence. If you realize a child is missing, immediately go to the swimming pool to make sure that they haven’t fallen accidentally into the water.

Learn first-aid skills

If you spot a drowning swimmer, call 911 immediately. While waiting for emergency responders, CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation are emergency procedures that can save a life if a person’s breathing or heart stops.

Fortunately, CPR training is readily available, and it is a skill you’ll likely remember for the rest of your life. The American Heart Association⁴ can help you find CPR and other first aid classes near you.

Maintain your pool

If you own a backyard pool, you’re responsible for maintaining it and the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, seemingly small problems can quickly become larger safety issues if not addressed.

The following basic pool maintenance tasks can help minimize risks:

• Frequently inspect areas that get a lot of usage, such as handrails and ladders, to make sure they are secure and are structurally sound.
• Inspect drain covers to make sure they are secure and attached properly.
• Pay particular attention to your pool deck. If it is made of stone, look for any stones that are loose and might be uneven. If you have a wooden deck, keep an eye out and fix any loose boards or nails that might be protruding due to weathering or age.
• Consider scheduling annual inspections of your swimming pool by a specialist to ensure that the mechanical elements are in proper working order.

Take care with chemicals

Most swimming pools are maintained through the use of chemicals that disinfect the water and protect swimmers from the spread of germs, contaminants and algae growth.

Yet some of those useful chemicals can be deadly, making safety around their use and storage essential.

Keep all chemicals in a secured area so that young children will not have access to them. Make sure that the protected area will also prevent chemicals from getting wet, leaking, spilling or mixing with other substances such as lawn fertilizers.

While it can sometimes seem challenging to get the swimming pool chemically balanced, pool owners need to make sure that they are following the instructions for usage of all the chemicals they use in their pool.

The takeaway

Swimming is a fun way to stay cool during the summer. But remember: Safety should be a priority.

It’s also important to make sure that your homeowners insurance policy is sufficient to cover issues that may crop up or accidents that may occur.

RBFCU Insurance Agency is available to conduct a review of your policy, or you can request an online quote today.