Recent data from USA Swimming Foundation reveals distressing news. At least 202 children ages 1 to 14 died in swimming pools last May through September. The data reveals that infants and toddlers are the most at risk. “Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among children 1 to 4 years of age and it is the second leading cause of death for children from 5 to 14 years old,” Pool Safely and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report. Here are some tips for child-proofing your pool:
Carefully Install Safety Covers
The CPSC recommends installing manual or automated pool covers over pools, spas, and hot tubs. Safety covers should be in place whenever the swimming area is not in use. Consumers must remember to carefully remove ladders and slides to ensure safety covers remain effective. Moreover, reliable covers “should withstand the weight of two adults and a child to allow a rescue if an individual falls onto the cover” and “be able to be easily and swiftly removed from the water to respond to emergencies,” Pool Safely adds.
Pool Barriers Save Lives
Moreover, parents can save children’s lives by building gates, fences, and barriers around pools and spas. The CPSC advises that the barriers should be a minimum of four feet tall, contain limited space between vertical or horizontal slats, and/or contain gaps no more than four inches between the barrier and the ground.
Finally, parents, guardians, and caregivers need to regularly check fences and gates for visible signs of wear. Reinforce fences, and prevent weatherization, corrosion, abrasion, chemical damage, and more, using plastic fasteners and plastic bolt cover caps. Bolt cover caps, screw cover caps, and cap nuts also fit over and protect external threads. Screw cover caps dramatically reduce the likelihood of fasteners loosening or falling out over time.
Don’t risk the lives of your children. Carefully install pool and spa safety covers, and make sure all barriers are present and up to CPSC standards. Learn more at this link: Screw cover
