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A home swimming pool is great fun for the whole family, but that fun can quickly turn to disaster. Follow these simple swimming pool safety tips to be sure your family stays safe.
1. Always supervise children when they are playing in the pool. Do not let yourself get distracted while you are supervising the children, and do not drink alcohol around the pool. If a child is missing, even for a moment, check in the pool first. In addition, have your children take swimming lessons.
2. Install a fence around your pool, and make sure the gate is one that closes and latches by itself. The fence should be at least four feet high. If your pool is accessible from the house, you can have an alarm installed on the door, which will sound if a small child goes out of the house.
3. Horseplay can result in injuries and accidents, so don't allow it. If you have an in-ground pool, enforce the rule of no running around the pool. If it is an above ground pool, people should not be allowed to sit on the sides of the pool (unless a deck has been constructed for that purpose.)
4. Follow manufacturers instructions for adding pool chemicals, and then keep those extra chemicals stored out of reach of children. Test the pool frequently to be sure it is not breeding germs.
5. Periodically inspect drains and inlets to make sure they are free of debris and are functioning properly. Check for sharp edges as well.
6. Use a pool safety cover when the pool is not in use. A safety cover is not the same as a pool cover. To qualify as a safety cover, it must be able to withstand 485 pounds per five square feet, and it must be latched on with safety latches. (Use of a safety cover may be impossible with some above ground pools.)
7. There are also net pool covers designed to keep children out of the pool. If a hard safety cover is impractical in your situation, a net pool cover can help insure safety. Don't let children walk on a covered pool.
8. Finally, remember that even swimming lessons are no guarantee that a child will not get injured or even drown in a home swimming pool. Always have a life saving flotation device near the pool and never let children swim unsupervised. It is a rule worth repeating.
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