If you have a swimming pool on your property, odds are it will see a lot of use this summer. Kids being out of school, long hours of sunlight, and hotter weather make swimming pools great locations for parties, barbecues, and many other get-togethers with a lot of people. However, before your guests arrive, remember to practice safety precautions to help reduce the risk of an accident.
Below are some important swimming pools safety tips to keep your family safe during the summer and all year round.
Install the Proper Safety Equipment
The single most important safety feature to any swimming pool is the barrier around it. A barrier should be able to prevent young children from possibly falling in on accident, as they often do not recognize the danger swimming pools can present. This helps property owners avoid “attractive nuisance” liability should anything unfortunate occur. An adequate barrier should be at least five feet tall, and have a gate with a latch that is well out of the reach of young children.
Lifesaving devices, such as life preservers and telescoping hooks, should be easily accessible for quick use should any swimmer run into trouble. Make sure you inspect these devices at the start of every summer and make sure they have not been damaged or weakened by lengthy exposure to elements.
Enforce Pool Rules
At some point in our lives we’ve all been instructed (or scolded) by a lifeguard not to run around the deck area surrounding a pool. There is a good reason for this: a wet pool deck is slippery and one of the single biggest causes of pool-related injuries every year. Slipping and falling could result in serious injuries, perhaps even worse if you slip and fall into the pool itself.
It is also important to know the depth of the pool and what locations are safe to dive into, if any. If you’re a visitor, ask the pool owner if you aren’t sure, and do not dive into the water where it is not safe to do so. If you’re a pool owner, provide appropriate signage letting swimmers know the pool’s depth.
Never Swim Alone
When having guests to your pool, particularly children, make sure the pool premises is never without the supervision in case any dangerous situations arise. This rule is important to more than just young children as well—adults who swim alone can suffer a sudden cramp or an unexpected slip-and-fall could cause a serious injury. Take the extra precaution and always use the buddy system.
Know CPR and First Aid Procedures
As a pool owner, make sure you know and are able to administer CPR on a moment’s notice if an accident arises. Immediately performing CPR after a drowning incident can not only save the victim’s life, but can severely reduce the possibility of any lasting injuries or side effects as a result. The American Red Cross offers CPR certification classes for a very low cost, providing pool owners an easy outlet to receive proper training.
If you or a loved one have been hurt at someone else’s pool, you may have legal options to seek compensation.Twiggs, Strickland & Rabeneau is an experienced North Carolina personal injury law firm with over 60 years of legal practice experience. Our skilled Attorney have earned numerous industry honors, including an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell®. Let us show you the difference our impactful legal counsel can provide during this difficult time.If you or a loved one has suffered an injury while at a swimming pool, call our skilled North Carolina personal injury Attorney at (919) 828-4357 to request a free initial case evaluation today.
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