Top 5 Pool Safety Tips for the Whole Family

Owning a pool can be one of the most important parts of your home, especially if your family loves to swim. After all, this simple addition can raise your home's value by up to 7% or more depending on the type of pool. It's a great addition to any household but it isn't all fun and games. Part of being a responsible pool owner is ensuring the safety of your swimmers.

For the first-time pool owner, prioritizing safety may not come naturally. However, it's your responsibility to keep your pool -- and your family -- safe from harm. Here are some of the best ways you can provide a safer swimming experience for the whole family.

Teach Your Children How to Swim

Teaching your child how to swim is the most important aspect of pool safety. Humans aren't innate swimmers like some animals, and we need training and practice to get it just right. If you thought you could throw your child in the water and get them to swim, you better think again.

Start teaching your child to swim with the basics: in the shallow zone, teach them how to float and how to hold their breath underwater. You can then show them how to tread water with floaties on. Just like riding a bike, you can start to remove floaties and other safety measures as they learn each step. Eventually, they can learn how to doggy paddle and do a simple sidestroke. It will take time so don't give up! You can also invest in swimming classes if you would rather get advice from an expert.

Keep in mind that accidents can still happen even if your child knows how to swim. Always watch them in the pool.

Invest in Pool Maintenance from Pool Care Professionals

Like all things, your pool will inevitably need maintenance over time. If you're not cleaning the water regularly and adding the necessary chemicals, you could be in for a bad time.

Bacteria and other pests love to make themselves at home in your pool. Common water-borne illnesses like Giardia and Cryptosporidium are easily spread in public pools. While they're less common for homeowners, they can still find their way into your pool from animals and other factors. It's thanks to regular cleanings and seasonal inspections from pool care professionals that your pool will remain safe for swimming.

These professionals are adept at identifying problems with your pool and fixing them quickly. They can perform regular cleanings each week or give you advice on how to do it yourself until their services are needed. You can contact them with anything from heating pump repairs to pool skimming. If you hate the thought of having too much chlorine in your pool, you can also ask your pool care professionals about specialty pool conversions, such as salt water pool conversions and Ozone-treated systems.

Talking with pool care professionals can help your family start swimming more safely. Consider this a top tip when it comes to pool safety!

Install a Fence Around Your Pool

This is a great tip for families with small children or pets. A quality pool gate or fence is essential to stopping kids and pets from getting into the pool unsupervised. While we don't want to think about the terrible things that can happen if a child is left in a pool unsupervised, a gate is a great way to stop this threat in its tracks. Look for pool gate options with a child-proof lock for an extra layer of protection. When you rely on a good fence, you'll never need to worry about your child falling in when no one is around. As a good rule of thumb, try to choose pool fences that are at least five feet in height. Many even come with alarms when they're opened nowadays.

That being said, a pool fence won't do all the work for you. It's vital that an adult is present every time a child is swimming. Take turns with a family member or jump in the pool yourself for hands-on supervision. Even if you need to leave the pool for a second, get someone to keep an eye on the children.

Teach/Learn CPR

Even if you supply flotation devices and water wings, you never know when someone can accidentally inhale water. It's a scary prospect, especially since you don't have a lifeguard on duty at home. That's why it's a great idea to encourage your family to learn CPR.

It's great if even one member of your family knows CPR. But if multiple know how to perform this life-saving action, that's all the better. Teaching your family the basics of CPR will give them a life-long skill that has the potential to save lives. Try making this into an activity if you're having trouble getting your children interested.

Don't Put Off Repairs

The day will ultimately come when your pool needs repairs. When this happens, don't put it off. Get those drains cleaned, replace those pumps, and make sure the area around the pool is safe for walking. Forgoing repairs could lead to bitter accidents if you're not careful. Even a crack in your pool's liner could result in nasty cuts at times. When you're experiencing an issue with your pool, don't hesitate to reach out to pool care professionals with plenty of history in the business.

Are you prioritizing safety when you swim? Rely on SwimHappy Pool Service and Repair when you want more tips about pool care. For seasonal cleanings, pool conversions, and repairs, don't hesitate to call us today!