Having a swimming pool in your home is all fun and games until you realize how many accidents happen every single day all around the world. Thousands of people get injured and unfortunately, every day dozens of deaths are recorded because of unsafe environments related to pools. If you want to have this a pool in your home, and if you want to make sure that you’ve done everything that you can to prevent any potential hazards, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we are going to list some of the different things that you can do to make your swimming pool safer.
1. Invest in good lighting
The number one thing that you need to invest in is good lights in and around your pool.
When we design and construct the pool, we don’t plan on swimming at night, but once we have it in our homes, we realize how amazing night swims are. Nevertheless, that does not mean that everyone just wants to jump in at all times, so you need to let everyone see where they are going. You should invest in good lighting, and if you notice that a light is not working, you have to tend to it as soon as possible.
2. Check the water
If the quality of the water is not good it can lead to bacteria and germs, and it can damage our health. When we swim in water of low quality, we can easily get sick and we can get rashes all over our bodies. Too many chemicals are as bad as not enough of them, and you need to know the exact balance of every product that you put in your pool. You should check the status of the water at least once per week and if you notice any changes, you need to act accordingly.
3. Build a fence
Fences are always a good idea, especially if you have small children or pets. If you don’t want to risk someone falling in the pool or if you want to prevent slip hazards, then you need to get yourself a fence. You don’t have to invest in a permanent model if you don’t want it to be there at all times, and you can get a removable one that you can just install during the winter season, or at night when you don’t want someone to fall in the pool.
4. Maintain and inspect the pool regularly
You have to both maintain the pool and inspect it regularly. You need to check the water, as we previously mentioned, but you also need to check the surface of the pool to see if there is any discoloration, cracks, holes, or peeling.
To prevent any problems right from the start, you need to build a high-quality pool, and on websites such as localpools.com.au, you can find out the options you have when it comes to the best pools on the market that are going to last for a long time without getting damaged.
5. Flotation devices can help out a lot
No matter how amazing of a swimmer you are, and no matter how much experience you and your family or friends have, we can never know when we are going to start feeling dizzy, tired, or when we just need a break. During the summer if you spend too much time in the water, if you are not hydrated enough, or if the weather is too hot, you may get lightheaded. Because of this, you need flotation devices in and around your pool that anyone can reach to take a break at all times.
6. Design the ladders properly
Every pool has some type of ladder or steps that allow people to enter the pool freely without jumping. However, did you know that there are too many slip and fall accidents on these ladders just because they were not properly designed? On the same note, if the ladder is not made of quality materials, it can easily rust, or it can get sharp and cut anyone who makes just one wrong move. Check the design of the steps and make sure you inspect the ladder for any sharp or rusted edges.
7. Check the drain often
More often than not, we tend to ignore the drain covers, and we pass next to them and we don’t even check them. You need to pay attention to this if you want to know the state of the water, and you need to know if there are too many chemicals in it, or not enough.
Remember that the drain covers need to be visible, and at the same time, children should never play near them because they can get easily injured.
8. Repair damages as soon as you notice them
There is no right time to repair damages, and when we see that there is a crack, a hole, or any other problem, we promise ourselves that we are going to repair it by the end of the swimming season, and then we say that we are going to cover the pool for the winter, and tend to the issue before the new summer. You should never postpone this, and the longer you wait, the bigger the damage will get, and the riskier it is going to become.
9. Vacuum the pool
Finally, you need to vacuum your pool’s floor regularly. This is going to prevent clogging and decreased water health, plus it will let you notice if there are any issues. We tend to believe that this is not necessary, but even the softest wind can bring dirt, debris, and leaves into your pool, and everyone who enters it is going to have sunblock on them. It is better to vacuum it regularly than to wait for a hazard to appear.
Always have a first aid kit nearby, practice rules with your kids, and pay attention to any slipping hazards. Even though there is no way for you to make sure that accidents will never happen in your house, that does not mean that you cannot do everything you can to prevent them. All these things require minimal time and investment and they can make the difference between amazing summers and a traumatic event.
