Swimming is fun! It’s one of the most loved activities. But for many folks with outdoor pools that fun happens mostly in the summertime. That means that the pool must be made safe for the wintertime.
One thing to remember is this: Diligence about pool safety never ends. It’s important to make you’re your pool is cleaned up, covered up, and locked up – and to make sure that everyone with access to your pool learns to swim.
Here are some pool safety tips to help you accomplish these things for the winter months.
The Clean Up.
First of all, pool toys and decorations that are in sight offer continuous temptation for children to wander into the pool area. Clean your pool area up so that toys and decorations are out of sight. That way they are out of mind too! (Even during ‘swimming months’ pool toys shouldn’t be out for use unless adults are around to supervise). Besides toys and decorations, items like ladders can also entice children to play in close proximity to the pool, so stow them away.
It’s also important to take the time to clean and dry all items before stowing them away. Moisture and chlorine will work against the longevity of your items as well as the sanitary condition of the items when you get them out for next season’s fun.
The Cover Up.
Now that all of your toys and décor is cleaned and stowed away, it’s time to cover it for the wintertime. You have some options but be sure you choose a cover that is ASTM certified and includes features like the ability to drain excess build-up, protection against trapping children between the cover and water, and a heavy weight of at least 485 lbs. This cover (even during your pool’s active months) can be your extra layer of pool safety.
The Lock Up.
One of the most important elements of your pool safety is locking up your pool. Even toddlers can figure out how to open a locked gate, so it’s critical to make sure that your pool has a pool fence around it that is at least 4 feet tall and that there is a secure, self-latching locked gate entrance to the pool.
Never assume that your pool gate is locked. Always check it and check it again. This is important for you to remember – but it is also an important policy for those visiting your pool. It’s important that you ask friends and family to observe this rule. And since you know the importance of this safety check, make sure that you do it anytime you are at someone else’s pool.
Any trip in or out of the gate should include a double-check that the gate is latched as you walk away from it so that the curious toddlers won’t be able to get near the water unsupervised.
The Importance of Being Swimmers.
You’ve probably heard it again and again that learning to swim is a valuable life skill, but did you know that it is also a valuable pool safety skill? Taking swimming lessons reduces the chance of drowning for young children. And – as a bonus – indoor swimming lessons are a fun way to beat the winter cabin fever.
It’s a play-while-learning activity that results in your child’s mastery of this valuable skill.
Making sure that your pool is safe by doing these four easy-to-remember things can give you peace of mind that your pool is a low-risk environment for children to play regardless of the season.
Little Otter Swim School’s team members are passionate about teaching kids to swim and be safe as they enjoy the water. Learn more about what makes Little Otter different.
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