
When it comes to designing and installing a new swimming pool for your property, safety will always be a top concern. Especially if there are children expected to regularly be present, but even if not, there are several safety themes to consider for a pool, ranging from safety equipment to major safety features and signage.
At Dolphin Pools & Spas, we’re proud to offer not only a huge selection of custom pools and pool design themes for clients in Salt Lake City and other parts of Utah, but also a variety of pool supplies and equipment, including those for safety purposes. For any pool we’re helping you design and install, we’ll ensure you’re paying close enough attention to vital safety considerations for the area and your property. Let’s take a look at some of the main areas to be thinking about with regard to completely safety in and around your swimming pool.
Fences, Gates and Boundaries
Both for public property and many forms of private property, fencing and boundaries will be important factors for the pool – not just for marking and property lines, but also for safety. To be considered a safety fence, the fence must not only provide a barrier, but also self-closing and self-locking mechanisms to prevent young children or those without access from entering. In addition, your local area may require you to meet certain fence height requirements for certain pool types.
In other situations, a shorter pool safety gate will be acceptable as long as it has those same self-locking and self-closing mechanisms. These are effective for protecting the area from small children or pets, but are not as effective for adults or other safety needs.
Safety Cover
For pool offseason periods, such as the winter we’re approaching, a cover is always needed – and specific safety covers are the way to go for many pool owners. These are items that provide specific protection against falling in the pool – they’re anchored to the patio every few feet, leaving no room for a child or pet to accidentally step through and fall in.
For those who want year-round coverage here, consider the automatic pool cover. This can’t hold quite the same weight as a safety cover, but does protect the pool area for the entire year rather than just offseason.
Safety Net
For pools where children or pets will regularly be present, a pool safety net is a great choice. It has wide loops fastened around the pool, plus comes at a limited cost for those who want to stick to a budget.
Pool Alarm
For those concerned about burglary, vandalism or other related concerns, a pool alarm is another consideration. These are available for both in-ground and above-ground pools, using sensors that monitor the pool area. They are tuned to only respond to significant weight entering the water, not random leaves or debris that might be around the property. These are also very inexpensive compared to many other alarm systems, often costing under $200.
Safety Accessories
There are several smaller pool safety accessories that are generally grouped together. You may not need every single one of these items, but this will depend on the exact pool type you own and who is using it. These accessories include:
- Pool signs (no running, no diving, other pool regulations)
- Pool safety rope
- Pool life ring (especially if there’s a deep end)
- Pool safety hook
- Pool mats
- Fully-stocked First Aid kit
- Pool Camera
For those who have begun to smarten up certain areas of their home, including placing cameras in areas like the front door or doorbell, why not consider one for the pool area as well? This serves multiple purposes: You can keep an eye on the kids or anyone else swimming from anywhere, and you’ll also have an additional security measure in case anyone attempts to break in. For those mostly looking to use the camera as a safety measure, they’re best paired with alarms, gates and other safety features as well.
Rails
For anyone who may have slipping or balance issues getting into or out of the pool, or just in general for improved safety, rails are ideal. These are particularly valuable for seniors or those with disabilities, who may struggle to enter the pool normally and could be at-risk of slipping or falling.
Drain Cover
Some people don’t realize the risks of an uncovered pool drain, especially if the drain is older or has not been serviced recently. The largest risk here is called entrapment, which refers to a part of your body, your hair or some of your clothing being sucked into the filter – not only is physical injury a major concern here, there is the possibility of drowning during extreme cases. For this reason, it’s vital to own a properly-fitted drain cover.
As you can see, there are many safety aspects to consider when designing and installing a new swimming pool for your property. From safety equipment such as alarms, covers, nets and signs to major safety features like drain covers and rails – it’s important to think of the safety risks and how you can best protect yourself and your family from harm.
For more on this, or to learn about any of our swimming pool design or installation services for SLC and other Utah clients, speak to our team at Dolphin Pools & Spas today.