SAFETY SEPTEMBER
September is such a varied time of year. The majority of the month is technically summer with the Autumn Equinox around September 22nd, but many close their pools in September here in the Northeast. This is largely due to the beginning of school; kids use the pool less as they are not home, and cooler temperatures are on the horizon. Whether you choose to close your pool in September or want to prolong the season, one thing that should never be out of mind when it comes to pools is safety.
SAFE SPACE
Although not part of the pool, barriers are extremely important when it comes to pool safety. In fact, towns require pools to have a minimum of four (4’) foot fencing, with no gaps greater than four (4”) inches and self-closing and self-latching gates. Some towns have even stricter requirements, with fence heights being set at five (5’) or six (6’) feet. Now is a great time to examine your fencing and see if any repairs may be needed. It is typical for gates to need adjustments over time to properly self-close and self-latch. This is sometimes due to the ground settling and shifting and the constant wear and tear when opening and closing them.
IN SAFE HANDS
When we close the pools for the season, we recommend using a safety cover. Safety covers are designed not only to cover the pool to prevent debris from entering. They also create a barrier to access for individuals, pets, and other animals. This cover is drilled into the decking or secured in the surrounding landscape of the pool to prevent the cover from moving and shifting. While some people choose not to have a safety cover and utilize tarps with water bags, this is not recommended. The tarps are not secure and any storm will likely blow the tarp into the pool. This defeats any purpose it may have had to prevent debris from getting into the pool. Tarps are also not considered a barrier to access or a safety mechanism to keep people from entering the pool.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
Some additional safety considerations you may want to explore are alarms and baby fencing. There are different alarm options that can be installed on windows, doors, decks, and/or pool surfaces and perimeters that can alert you to unknown entry and exits to the pool area. If you have small children, you may also want to explore the addition of baby fencing. Baby fencing is a mesh-type fencing installed around the immediate perimeter with a self-latching and self-closing gate for access. It can be completely removed from the decking for convenience when you choose.
SAFE AND SOUND
This just touches on some of the safety items available for your pool that can be added to make it safer. Whether commercial or residential, all pools are required to have some features for safety and we advocate for the more, the merrier. Interested in a safety assessment? Let us know and we can give you some suggestions.
