Did you know?

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of five in California. For every drowning, there are eleven near drownings, many of which result in irreversible brain damage.

With children in the home and a swimming pool in the backyard, supervision becomes very important. But supervision, in itself, is not nearly enough.

Studies sponsored by the Customer Product Safety Commission report that nearly 69% of all swimming pool accidents took place when both parents were at home; 10% were being supervised by grandparents or other adults, and 7% by a sibling. 77% of the children had been seen five minutes or less before being missed and discovered in the pool, and many were thought to be taking a nap.

Layers of protection 

The following list is provided as a guide for parents and grandparents of children under 5 years of age with a swimming pool in the yard:

1. DOORS AND GATES leading to the pool area should be self-closing, locked and alarmed.

2. Install a MOTION ALARM in the pool and spa area.

3. Install a CHILD-SAFE BARRIER (FENCE) around the immediate pool area and/or an approved pool cover. If you don’t block off every access, the child will eventually find a way to get to the pool when you are not looking. Do not deceive yourself by thinking. “My child would never try that”. Children are very smart and you must assume that a child will find a way to beat the system. If you do not, you are asking for trouble.

4. Use a WRISTBAND personal alarm with an in-house remote alarm. The new Safety Turtle is an ideal product for this “Last line of defense”.

5. When having a party, appoint a “DESIGNATED CHILD WATCHER” to constantly observe the children. Adults become preoccupied when socializing. They often assume someone else is watching the kids.

6. Do not consider children “water safe” just because they have had swimming lessons. THERE ARE NO WATER SAFE CHILDREN. Kids lack the maturity level for sound judgment. Fun is their motivation and a pool is fun; Unfortunately it is also dangerous.

7. NO ONE SHOULD EVER SWIM ALONE. Teach your children to use the buddy system. Since children learn by example, parents should follow these safety tips as well.

8. TOYS AND GAMES should not be stored in or near the pool. The attraction of toys near the pool is much too inviting for children.

9. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED for any reason. Keep a cordless telephone near the pool at all times. A large percentage of child drownings occur when the children are left unattended while the caretaker answers the telephone, the front door, or while using the restroom.

10. If a child is missing, always check the pool first! TIME IS CRITICAL; if the child has “Silently” entered the water and is submerged, you have precious little time to react.

11. LEARN CPR. Anyone responsible for children including grandparents, siblings, and baby sitters should know CPR. Post CPR instructions near the pool. Contact your local Red Cross for training information.

COMMON SENSE is the key to pool safety. There is no substitute for adult supervision. The National Spa and Pool Institute, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and The American Academy of Pediatrics, all recommend AT LEAST A 48-INCH HIGH BARRIER ( FENCE) AROUND THE POOL!

What is the best way to prevent children fromm drowning?

Can I take it down easily?

A standard pool fence is removable in approximately twelve foot sections. Each section can easily be rolled up and weighs only eleven pounds. The average one hundred foot fence can be removed in less than fifteen minutes and be put back up in approximately the same amount of time. Most fences, however, are never taken down until children in the home are old enough not to require this safe guard any longer.

What type of fence gate do I need?

Self-closing, self-latching gates are automatic and provide better protection if there are folks in the house that can’t remember to close a gate behind them. Because it does not have to be physically closed or locked by the user it is a more practical option when there are older children in the home who have unsupervised access to the swimming pool . A self-closing gate and its lock are mechanical devices located outside and subject to corrosion, wear from use, misalignment, and mechanical failure. Extra care must be taken to insure that the gate is functioning properly. Be sure that your gate is always installed to swing out or away from the pool or water.

How high should my pool fence be?

Pool fence ranges from 3 1/2 feet to 5 feet high. For an average toddler we recommend you look at the 4 foot height. A child capable of climbing a 4 foot high fence will most likely also be able to go over 5 feet. It’s just a longer fall down the other side. A child with this kind of capability should already be well into a swimming program.

We talk to parents moving into a home with a pool for the first time who are nervous about a six year old around the pool accidentally falling in. Since a six year old can go over any height fence and the fence is being installed to basically keep them from just falling into the pool by accident, we would recommend a shorter height like 3 1/2 feet as long as this is the only child in the household.

How far apart should the fence support poles be?

Support poles provide both tension and strength for the fence, so the less distance apart the better. We normally recommend 30 inches as a standard if you are making any turns with the fence at all. For straight runs, like across a patio, 36 inch pole spacing should be adequate

What mesh material is best?

The majority of pool fence manufacturers today use polyester mesh with vinyl coating. It is a continuous basket weave construction and is the strongest method today for manufacturing pool fence. The smooth vinyl coatings are mildew resistant and allow easy cleaning of the finished product, unlike the grainy finishes of older style dipped interlocking nylon products that had a tendency to trap both growths and dirt. The newer polyester meshes are also much more resistant to punctures and are virtually impossible for even an adult to rip.

Should the mesh be bordered?

To be a finished product your pool fence mesh should also be bordered on all four sides with vinyl border. Not only does this provide a finished look to your fence but also prevents unraveling of the mesh itself. Check the border material to insure that it has visible reinforcing built into the vinyl to provide additional strength to the fence and eliminate sagging over time.

Call 800-940-1977 or Click Here to email us about Pool Fencing. Please give us your name, contact info and where you live and we’ll get back to you with the soonest appointment available.