5 Rules to Follow If You Have a Swimming Pool in Your Backyard

A swimming pool in your backyard is the coolest thing ever! You don’t have to pack your picnic basket every time you feel like combating the summer heat with some pool time. However, having a swimming pool in your backyard comes with serious risks, especially if you have children and pets at home. Around 300 children (under the age of 5) drown in swimming pools every year, making it one of the most common causes of accidental deaths.
No, we don’t mean to scare you. We just want you to know the potential risks so you can take adequate measures to keep your family safe and sound, all year round. We have listed down some must-follow rules if you have a swimming pool at your property.

1.     Install Pool Barriers

The first and foremost rule that you need to comply with if you have a swimming pool in your backyard is to install pool barriers. Install a pool fence, use pool safety covers, or install safety alarms on every door that leads to the pool. The best way to keep your children and pets safe from drowning accidents is to keep them from going to the pool area unsupervised. Installing a pool fence is one of the most cost-effective and efficient safety measures that you shouldn’t skip at any cost.

2.     Install Safety Drain Covers

The suction power of drains in the swimming pools can be powerful enough to trap children and even adults. Therefore, always install anti-entrapment drain covers so that there are no entrapment-related accidents.

3.     Vigilant Supervision

One of the most important rules of pool safety is vigilant supervision throughout the time your children are around the swimming pool. The key to keeping your children from pool-related accidents is to never let them stay unsupervised. Even if you have a swimming pool fence installed, you have to ensure that your child doesn’t cross it when you aren’t looking. You can prevent this by installing locks to the pool fence doors.

4.     Learn to Swim

If you have a swimming pool in your backyard, everyone in your home should know how to swim; both children and adults. This will ensure that your children can keep themselves above the water in case they trip and allow the adults to jump in the pool to rescue their children or pets.

5.     Display Pool Rules

Children need constant reminders about everything, and pool safety rules are no exception. Make sure to display the pool safety rules around the pool area. The rules that you should cover include:

• Do NOT push each other
• No running around the pool
• Don’t go near the pool without adult supervision
• No diving
• Get quick help if someone is in trouble

Summary

​Keeping your children and pets safe is your responsibility. Having a pool in our backyard puts additional burden on your shoulders. However, taking the right measures is the key to swimming pool safety. You can always start by getting a pool fence installed.