Swimming Pools & Child Safety

I get a lot of calls about keeping kids safe around the pool.  At Texas Oasis Pools we offer three options for child safety and I like to lay them out for my customers.  We have a Loop Loc mesh pool cover, a Pool Guard Safety Net, and Pool Guard Child Safety Fencing.

First to the Loop Loc cover.  Parents call me looking for these and the first thing I ask is whether they are covering the pool for safety or for leaves.  The Loop Loc cover is really what I call a "winter cover."  If you have a leafy pool and don't want to deal with a lot of maintenance, a Loop Loc is perfect for November through March or April.  It is 100% child safe while it's on but what about the summer?  Unless you have a secondary option for summer the Loop Loc is not something you can take off and on daily during swim months.  

This brings me to my number one choice for safety...the old stand by...the child safety fence.  It's not the most beautiful thing the world (although as safety fences go ours looks pretty good) but the important thing is that it's very effective and it's always up.  There is no substitute for parental supervision but any form of cover or net cannot be on the pool 100% of the time and we all know parents can't have eyes on each clild 100% of the time as hard as they try.  With a safety fence and a Magna Latch gate the pool perimeter is always protected. With the gate that shuts automatically behind you and has a secondary lock you have much better protection.  There is nothing to grab on to and kids can't climb them unlike iron or chain link fences.  

The third option is the safety net.  This large net that covers the pool does need to be taken on and off for each pool use, but it's a pretty quick process.  When the net is placed over the pool and the tension is cranked into it then the child could crawl across the net and it would hold the weight over the pool water.  It's not my number one choice just because of the fact that you have to replace it after each swim and whenever it's off the pool you have the increased chance of an accident.  For some homes where there is not a lot of patio space to accommodate a fence a net might be the better choice.

High door latches, locked wood perimeter fences, and pool alarms or door chimes are all good secondary options as well.  I've had too many parents call and say "our child jumped in, we have to do something now" don't wait until it's too late, it only takes a split second.  I've seen kids just randomly jump into pools when it's least expected, fully clothed and in the coldest weather.  I don't think we'll ever stop them or know what they are thinking so the only option is to put up a barricade and these are some great choices. 

   

Texas Oasis Pools
9720 Coit Rd. Ste 220 #146
Plano, TX 75025
214-532-7971 
www.TexasOasisPools.com

Licensed with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.  Listed under our corporate name JS Moore, Inc. of Frisco, TX Appliance Installer Contractor license number 230.  www.license.state.tx.us/complaints  TDLR regulations are limited to electrical work only.