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Swimming Pools - A Checklist for Safety
Fencing
- There is a fence or barrier completely surrounding the pool. If the house is part of the barrier, the doors to the pool are protected with an alarm.
- The fence or barrier is at least 4 feet high.
- The fence or barrier has no footholds or handholds that help a young child to climb it. If the barrier is a chain link fence, then no part of the diamond-shaped opening is larger than 1 ¾ inches.
- Vertical slats are less than 4 inches apart to prevent a child from squeezing through.
Gates
- The gate is self-closing.
- The gate has a self-latching mechanism in proper working order.
- The gate latching mechanism is out of reach of young children.
Doors
- All exit doors from the house to the pool are protected with an alarm.
- There is an audible warning when doors from the house to the pool are opened.
- Adults can turn off the alarm temporarily for a single opening of the door by using a keypad or switch that is out of reach of children.
Steps and Ladders
- Steps and ladders leading to an above-ground pool are secured, locked, or removed when the pool is not in use.
Pool Covers
- Pool covers are always removed completely when the pool is in use.
- Standing water is always removed from pool covers.
Supervision
- Young children are never left alone in or around the pool, even for a moment. They are always watched by an adult.
- Babysitters and guardians are always instructed about potential hazards to young children in and around the pool.
- Caretakers never rely on floatation devices or swimming lessons to protect a child.
Emergency Procedures
- Parents, guardians and babysitters know CPR.
- Parents, guardians and babysitters know not to wait for emergency personnel and to institute CPR or mouth to mouth resuscitation immediately.
- There is a telephone at poolside.
- Emergency numbers are posted by the poolside phone.
Diving In-ground Pools
- Divers are allowed to dive only from the end of the diving board. Divers are instructed always to steer up immediately after entering the water. This reduces changes of the diver striking the sides or bottom of the pool.
- Divers are never allowed to consume alcohol or drugs before entering the pool.
- Divers are never allowed to dive from the side or shallow end of the pool. This will reduce chances of the diver striking the opposite wall or the bottom of the pool.
Above-ground Pools
- People are never allowed to dive into an above-ground pool because it is too shallow for safe diving.
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