Safe at Home

Create a layered protection plan to keep your pool safe and secure.

Any parent can tell you what happens to their kids the minute the first snow of the year falls. Their adolescent eyes grow large; their mouths drop into large, round Os of wonder; and they race to beat each other out the front door. And what do their parents do? Grab them before they can escape and bundle them in layers of long johns, sweatshirts, waterproof outwear, mittens, and scarves.

Those same kids clamor all summer long to get into the pool. And while parents can’t layer their kids with protective clothing before allowing them to wade in, pool owners can use that same layering philosophy when building their pool safety plan.

Aside from an adult’s watchful eye, “the only thing that’s been rigorously studied and shown to be effective is a four-sided isolation pool fence with a self-closing, self-latching, child-resistant gate,” says Julie Gilchrist, pediatrician and researcher for the Injury Center of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “If you can only do one thing, clearly, it’d be best to go with this one because it is often required by law and code and [its effectiveness] has been scientifically proven.” A four-sided isolation fence encloses and isolates the pool from the rest of the yard. Any wall of the house with a door, window, or other point of egress cannot function as a barrier or part of the fence; a child can gain access to the pool by simply exiting the house. The Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends constructing a safety fence at least 4 feet high with openings no larger than 4 inches. Chain-link fences are discouraged because they can be easily climbed.

Alarm systems add a more proactive element to your safety plan. Any alarm is beneficial, but combining multiple audible warning systems can help to better guard against accidents. Gate alarms mount to the pool gate and sound when the gate is opened; adults can disable the alarm by pressing a pass button when entering or exiting. If the gate is not shut properly, the alarm will sound. In-pool alarms use deck-mounted sensors that dip into the pool water and are activated by waves, sounding an alarm if a person or pet falls in. Infrared alarm systems form an invisible border around a pool by using several freestanding sensors that detect motion and heat, sounding an alarm by the pool and inside the house when someone crosses the beam. Wrist alarms allow parents to safeguard individual children. The band fits over a the child’s wrist, sounding a warning whenever submerged underwater. Keep in mind, though, that alarms only work when someone is around to hear them.

Safety covers, when used regularly, can also prevent people from entering the water. To qualify as a safety cover, the device must meet strict standards set by ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials). Covers must support at least 485 pounds within any 3-foot diameter.

5 Things to Know Before You Buy

Use these tips to maintain a safe swimming environment:

Plan ahead. When installing a new pool, pick a site where the pool can be easily isolated. Your pool builder or landscape architect should work with a fencing contractor to ensure there is enough space to incorporate a four-sided isolation fence.

Adjust accordingly. If you purchase a home with an existing pool, check local codes to ensure it is fenced appropriately. If no isolation fence is in place, budget to have one installed.

Be resourceful. Add layers to your safety plan using existing tools. A home alarm system, for example, can be configured to chime every time a door or window is opened.

Maintain constant adult supervision. Safety barriers are no substitute for keeping a close eye on children. If you need to leave the pool for any reason, take the child with you.

Keep the environment safe. On a regular basis, perform the following checks:

• Keep away anything that would enable fence-climbing, such as chairs and benches.    

• Make sure there are no gaps below the fence that someone could use to crawl under.  

• Check that all self-latching gates close properly.

• Be aware of all egress points such as open windows and screen doors, especially in the summer.

Personal Flotation Devices versus Toys

Life Jackets are PFDs

 “The best safety or floatation aid is a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Personal Flotation Device (PFD)—ideally, one that keeps the person’s head above the water whether or not they are conscious or [physically] able to do so,” says Chris Brewster, president of the U.S. Lifeguarding Association. Keep in mind, however, that even a Coast Guard-approved PFD doesn’t guarantee that the person or child will float face-up. And because toddlers don’t have the swimming skills or upper body strength required to keep their faces out of the water, constant adult supervision is required.

Don't Use Floaties

Inflatable water wings (“floaties” or “swimmies”) are a popular, yet highly unsafe item to use as a safety device for children. “Floaties are a very undependable and unwise form of floatation device for kids. Toddlers have very weak arm strength; their arms can go up over their head, allowing the floaties to fall off,” Brewster says. The product can also tear easily and deflate over time.

Noodles & Tubes Are Toys

“Any floating device that isn’t securely fastened around the person is a problem,” Brewster says. Therefore, swim noodles, boogie boards, inflatable tubes, and other inflatable items are considered toys and should not be used as safety devices.