How to Practice Pool Safety at Home

At California Poolside, our customers’ most pressing concerns are the quality of our construction, the innovation of our designs, and the competitiveness of our rates. But one facet of pool construction often overlooked is pool safety.

While we do everything to ensure your pool is as safe as humanly possible, it falls on you to practice safe swimming practices once the pool is finished.

Luckily, swimming pool safety is simple—and here’s how to get started.

1. Secure the Pool’s Perimeter

Walls work. Sure, if some really wanted to, they could hop your fence and go for a swim when you’re not home. But walls create an important obstacle to prevent children and animals from wandering into your pool and creating a dangerous situation.

You should consider building a wall—at least 4 feet in height—around your pool, complete with self-latching and self-closing gates.

Whenever you’re not using the pool for an extended period of time, also be sure to use a pool cover.

And for the best peace of mind, install a pool alarm so you’ll be alerted immediately if anyone enters your pool area without permission.

2. Never Leave Kids Unsupervised

I know this sounds like common sense, but every year parents make the same mistake. They leave the little ones unattended for just a few minutes, maybe to check the oven or answer the phone.

Drownings and other pool-related injuries can happen faster than you imagine. Even if you think you’ll be back in a second, you MUST round up the kids and keep them away from the pool until you return.

Just two minutes without supervision is enough for disaster to strike. This is especially important if you insist on having a diving board for your pool.

3. Enroll the Entire Family in Swim Safety Classes

Knowing exactly how to swim is one of the best insurance policies you can buy for your kids. Even children who take to the water like fish can benefit from an official swim class.

And while the young ones are taking swim classes, you yourself might consider CPR classes. Knowing how to perform CPR in case of a pool emergency can mean the difference between waiting precious minutes for an ambulance to arrive.

4. Establish Your Own Set of Pool Rules

The same set of rules you see at every public pool can and should be adopted for your home. Make it clear to the kids that running, swimming alone, diving, or playing with drain covers are grounds for a temporary suspension of their pool privileges.

5. Maintain Clean, Balanced Pool Water

Dirty or unbalanced pool water can cause a variety of illnesses, ranging from mild rashes and upper respiratory problems to more serious waterborne illnesses.

Pool water must be periodically checked and balanced for chlorine and pH to prevent algae and bacteria from growing.

Pool Safety Starts with Design and Construction

A well-built pool is a safe pool. Choosing a contractor who only practices quality craftsmanship is your first line of defense against future accidents and mishaps.

California Poolside always designs and builds with safety in mind. Check out some of our projects and see just how fun and safe a backyard pool can be.