By Rachel Harper
The prevailing strategy behind pool safety systems is similar to that of the packaging on a child’s toy. As most parents are aware, numerous barriers prevent access to a packaged toy. And though a pool is not sealed with ultra-thick plastic, nor does it feature a battery cover requiring a screwdriver, it too should be protected by numerous layers. While there’s no better safety plan than constant adult supervision, you can also help prevent accidents by using a safety cover, building a fence, and installing an alarm system.
Safety Covers
A durable, high quality pool cover must meet the standards of ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) in order to qualify as a safety cover: the cover must support the weight of 485 pounds (about that of two adults and one child) within a three-foot diameter.
Solid safety covers, typically vinyl, use an automatic pump to drain rainwater off the surface and prevent a drowning hazard. Tapered safety covers prevent water from accumulating in the center, and those with mesh panels permit water to drain through the cover. All covers should be removed completely while using the pool so there’s no risk of a swimmer getting trapped beneath it.
Perimeter Fences
Most towns require pools to be installed in a fully fenced yard, though you’ll need to check local codes for the specific type and height. While you are likely to install a fence around your yard, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) notes that the only safety fence shown to be effective is a four-sided isolation fence with a self-closing, self-latching, child-resistant gate. An isolation fence isolates the pool from the house and the rest of the yard on all four sides.
The CPSC (Consumer Product and Safety Commission) recommends that a pool fence be at least 48 inches high with openings no wider than four inches. To discourage climbing, fences should contain very few horizontal bars and not be made of chain links. Pool fences should not allow room for pets or children to climb under.
Relatively permanent isolation fences can be made of wood, metal, or wrought-iron, and remain installed for a number of years. Other isolation fences—made of mesh or tightly woven material with poles that slide into ground brackets—are typically set up for the length of the pool season, then taken down and stored during the off season.
Alarms
A number of alarm systems are available, including invisible fences and alarms for the pool, gate, doors, and windows, as well as wearable alarms.
Invisible fences use infrared or laser technology to detect when an animal or child moves or emits body heat in a protected area. The “fence” is created by evenly spaced detector poles that form a sensor beam when enabled. When the beam is broken, the alarm sounds. These systems are height-adjustable, so ground-level activity will not set off the alarm.
Gate alarms attach to the fence gate and utilize a simple magnetic connection that sounds an alarm when interrupted. Most systems allow adults to use a “pass button” to gain access without sounding the alarm.
Beyond gate alarms, consider installing in-pool alarms. Some attach directly to the pool wall; others simply float along the water. Both utilize similar technology to warn users when someone has entered the water. Most detect motion in the water, quieting only after a user accesses the control panel. To disarm the system, the control panel must be opened with a key or code, making it hard to bypass.
For additional security, consider adding alarms to home windows and doors leading near the pool area to keep small children from exiting the home and wandering near the water. If you have a home security system, you may already have a monitoring system in place.
Wearable alarms usually attach to a child’s wrist and sound an alarm if he becomes submersed in water or the alarm is taken too far from the unit’s main station.
To provide a safe, fun environment for your family, be sure to always remain within an arm’s reach of children and use multiple forms of other safety devices for added protection.
Four-sided Fencing
To make sure your pool meets the requirements of a safety fence, just remember the number four. Though local codes vary, your fence should be at least 4 feet high with openings no larger than 4 inches and must isolate the pool, surrounding it completely on all four sides. This means the back of your house cannot function as the fourth wall of the fence—it’s too easy for someone to go out the back door and have immediate access to the pool.
No Trespassing
To keep out kids, pets, and unwanted guests when the pool isn’t in use, set up a series of barriers and safety checks: