Safer Water

Childhood drowning is preventable. Supervision is vital, but barriers and alarms guard the water even when you’re not there.
1. Fences. Nothing could be simpler. You can opt for a permanent, wrought iron master-piece or the flexibility of a removable fence. Whichever option you choose, consider in-stalling a key lock of some type (an ordinary padlock will do). We’ve all heard too many stories of precocious preschoolers able to operate the latch on a pool gate (by balancing on lawn chairs, tricycles, pets, etc.) Just make sure the key is placed in some unlikely, inaccessible spot as well.
2. Safety Pool Covers. These are mesh or solid covers that are pulled taut and secured to the deck at recessed brackets. Flimsy solar covers offer no protection against drowning, but safety covers are strong enough for an adult to walk on. The mesh ones also allow rain to pass through while keeping out leaves and debris. We’re keeping pools clean and saving kids’ lives – how’s that for multi-tasking?
3. Alarms. You’ve got a lot of options here: in-pool alarms, gate alarms, door alarms. The technology for in-pool alarms has improved dramatically so that the siren doesn’t go off every time a leaf falls into the pool. Gate alarms not only alert you when a child opens the gate, but when an adult fails to close the gate. Some home security companies offer a se-curity system that announces any door that is opened (“Back Door – Open,” in a feminine voice like the computer in Star Trek). Pretty handy when you’re as worried about the kids escaping into the front yard as the back.
So which one should you get? You need to judge what will work best with your family, but ideally you need more than one barrier or alarm – the trick is to wrap your children in layers of protection. Swim lessons, barriers and alarms, and educated supervision all work together to keep kids safe.
For more information on swim lessons and water safety, contact Academy Swim Club at 661-702-8585 or www.swim4life.com.