With summer just around the corner, swimming pools are set to become the center of family activities in many American households. While you may be anticipating the hours of sunbathing, cool refreshing swims, and weekend pool parties, it’s important not to forget the importance of making your pool area safe for your family – especially if you have young children at home.

You see, children are curious by nature, and although you may educate them about the potential dangers of water, their curiosity will always draw them closer to the pool. According to the CDC, drowning is the number one cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 and 4.

So, to help you make your pool area safer for children, here are some childproofing tips:

Pool Covers

If designed and utilized correctly, pool covers provide perhaps the safest barrier for keep children out of the pool. However, the efficacy of a pool cover depends upon its quality. A cover that is safe is easily able to support the weight of an adult.

To ensure the safety of children in the pool area, make sure the pool cover is securely attached in place when the pool is not in use. And make sure that any rainwater that has collected on the cover is drained or pumped immediately. Even a few inches of accumulated water on a pool cover can endanger the life of a young child.

Pool Fences

If your home pool has an irregular shape or is very large in size, a standard pool cover may not be able to do the job. This is where pool fences. These can help you ensure that your pool is kept safely off-limits between uses. In fact, it’s a good idea to have a pool fence even if you’re using a pool cover. You can never be too safe. Moreover, remember to keep away furniture or other objects that children can use to climb over the fence.

Establish Pool Safety Rules

While pool covers and safety fences can definitely make your pool area safer for children, they’re still no guarantees. Perhaps the best way to mitigate the risk of swimming pool-related accidents is to educate your young ones about the importance of water safety. Make it clear to them that they’re not allowed under any circumstances to enter the pool area without adult supervision, and establish safety rules such as no running near the pool or no diving in the deep end.

One of the leading pool contractors in Virginia, we offer the ultimate one-stop solution to all the pool needs of homeowners in Hamilton, Leesburg, and Ashburn.

For more information, call 571-267-7488.