If parents would only watch their children more diligently when they have backyard pools, we could eliminate accidental drowning. No doubt you have heard people make this argument, but all it takes is a second with your back turned. One time that you left the backdoor open. One time that a neighbor’s child wandered over to your yard to check out the pool. Six people drown each day in US pools, and 24 nearly drown. The vast majority of these are children. Adult supervision and diligence are the best ways to keep swimming pools safe and fun. But a pool fence covers those seconds when we can’t be everywhere at once.
Swimming accidents affect children under 5 and between 15 and 24 have the highest incidences of drowning. A pool is an incredible 14 times more likely than a car to cause fatal injury to children under 4. Nearly 5000 children receive injuries that, while not fatal, result in permanent neurological disabilities. And fencing with properly latched gates can prevent nearly all of these accidents. You can find sites advertising cheap fences, but the good quality safety pool fence should be budgeted into the cost and upkeep of the pool. When choosing your pool fence, make sure that it:
- Is at least 4 feet tall.
- Has a self-latching pool gate that children can’t open by themselves. The latches should be out of small children’s reach and made of stainless steel for rust-proof durability.
- Is made of quality material. Whether you are choosing aluminum, mesh, or another material, make sure that it is built to withstand use and does not have gaps or cracks that can allow children to access a pool. Children can fit in some amazingly small spaces! So be sure that the fence is tight.
- Has an Aluminum corrosion-proof post.
- Surrounds the entire pool and creates an area separate from your yard.
- Has no patio furniture or other equipment stacked in front of it, which would give children another mode of access to the pool.
- Has no accessible tree branches nearby.
- Conforms to your city or town’s regulations, if any.
Style and aesthetics are not the main objectives. The goal is to keep your children – and any who would wander into your yard to check out the brilliant, tempting blue water – safe. It only takes a few minutes for a child to drown or to become irreversibly injured. Is this meant to scare you into buying a safety fence? If that’s what it takes, sure! Rather than fear, though, safety fences provide greater security and can reduce fear because you know that there is a strong barrier between your pool and your child.
As parents, especially parents with pools, we need to take every precaution we can to ensure our children’s safety, as well as neighbors, friends, and other visitors. A swimming pool fence and self-latching gate adds another layer of protection, and it will allow you to enjoy your backyard swimming pool and breathe easier.
