How to Make Your Pool Safe for Kids

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14 and leading cause of accidental injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4 according Safe Kids Worldwide.

According to a recent study, nearly nine in ten drowning-related deaths occurred while a child was being supervised. Children ages 4 and under have a drowning death rate more than three times greater than other age groups and account for 80 percent of home drowning.

Children can drown in as little as one inch of water and are therefore also at risk of drowning in wading pools, bathtubs, diaper pails, toilets, spas and hot tubs.

Most children who drown in swimming pools were last seen in the home, had been missing from sight for less than 5 minutes and were in care of one or both parents at the time of drowning.

Protecting children from drowning or becoming submerged in a backyard swimming pool requires more that a single safety device or barrier. Providing layers of protection is the recommended guidelines by the CDC.

For doors that open out onto the pool area, it''s a good idea to equip them with an alarm. When the door is opened, after about 7 seconds, the alarm will sound. You can quiet the alarm by pushing a button on the side. If an adult wants to use the door they can open it, press the button, and pass through.

A fence that runs all the way around the pool is a great second layer of protection. The minimum height is four feet, but as an added precaution, never put a piece of patio furniture close to the fence, as it could act as a ladder for a small child.

A self closing gate is another precaution that the CDC recommends. Mount the self closing latch on the outside of the gate and so the gate swings away from the pool. The latch needs to be installed so the knob is on top out of the reach of children. The gate should close and latch automatically. If your gate latch and hinges don''t work perfectly, then you should seriously consider replacing them.

The next precautionary measure is to install a gate alarm. This battery operated alarm is easily mounted to the gate with just a couple of screws. Magnetic sensors are then attached to both the gate and post. If a child is somehow able to operate the latch and pass through the gate, the alarm will go off automatically; it can silence by pushing a button on the side.

When an adult wants to pass through the gate, they simply open the gate, push the button, and then pass on through. The alarm will not go off.

Another good layer of protection is a pool alarm. This will alert you if a child falls into the pool and there''s nobody around. The alarm sits on side of the pool and is activated by change in water movement. When the surface of the pool is disturbed by a falling child it will set off the pool alarm and send a signal to a remote unit placed inside the home.

Some pool alarms alone will be enough protection if your child falls into a pool. You may want to have your child wear an alarm band that is locked on to the child wrist while they are around the pool area. When the wrist band gets wet, the alarm goes off.

Keep in mind no matter how good these products are and even when you have installed several layers of protection, nothing is better than strict supervision.

Ralph Winn writes about Home Security Systems and other related topics. For more information on Home Security