In the back of their minds, all pool owners know the risk of having a lurking, silent body of water in their backyard. Even more so for families with children, a pool can be a silent killer. Consider this top ten list of the most common and most dangerous pool deficiencies:
10) Electric
Proper electrical wiring for a pool and all of its components is critical, as water, electricity, and people are a dangerous mix. Pools and all metal components within a meter of the water line must be connected with a thick ground wire loop. Also, all electrical devices that come in close contact with water, such as pumps and lights, must be properly wired with a GFIC or ground fault interrupter.
9) Slippery decks
As pool deck surfaces age and weather, they will develop algae and become very slippery, especially in wet conditions. To reduce the chance of falling or slipping on a pool deck, you should pressure wash it every year. Additionally, silica sand can be added to your concrete sealer to provide a more textured, slip-resistant surface.
8) Stairs and Stairs
Ladders and ladders are a very common place of injury in a swimming pool. Colored corner tiles are used to accent the edges of steps in many swimming pools, helping to define the edges of steps under moving water. The chance of a fall or injury increases at night, and even more so if there is no underwater pool light to illuminate the water. Stairs often have handrails installed on the pool deck that can loosen over time. If the ladder rails move while you are getting out of the water, this will greatly increase the risk of a fall.
7) Water quality
Don’t underestimate your green pool. Harmful bacteria can reside in poorly maintained water. Ensuring the quality of the water is suitable for swimming is essential to prevent infections and staph infections of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat. Chemical levels in the water can also affect people prone to skin reactions.
6) Chemical storage
Your pool chemicals are a potent mix of strong acids, alkalines, and poisons. Worse yet, many of these chemicals react specifically with each other, but are often stored in the same place with little effort to keep them safe. Chemicals must be investigated and stored in a controlled, dry and locked location at all times.
5) Winter Pool Covers
Winterizing covers are often just large tarps stretched over the pool with sand or water bags holding them down at the edges. These are not strong enough to support the weight of a medium sized pet or small child without getting into the pool. It may seem tempting to walk on them, but any person or animal walking on a pool’s winter cover is in serious danger.
4) Suction Lines
The pool’s suction points, most commonly the skimmer and main drain, are connected directly in front of the pool’s powerful pumps. The power of a pool pump is more than enough to cause serious and life-threatening injuries. The warning label that comes on new pool drains, skimmers and pumps indicates that the pool pump has enough force to catch, drain and gut you should you inadvertently cover the suction point with any part of your body. Tragically, more children die this way each year due to single-suction main drains that are now illegal. Separate dual suction main drains are now required so you can’t cover both suction points at the same time. Proper use of main drain covers is critical to ensuring swimmer safety.
3) Pool toys
A surprisingly common source of pool-related accidents is the result of pool toys that are not suitable for use in a pool. Some flotation devices can cause young swimmers to flip over and become trapped face down underwater. Large inner tubes or inflatable boats are great examples of items more suitable for the beach.
2) Pool Slides
Pool slides seem like a good idea when you consider that children play in the pool. At the same time, a pool slide is literally like letting your kids play on a 9-foot-high concrete ladder. Pool slides are becoming less and less common these days, and for good reason, as they are the second most common cause of serious pool injuries.
1) trampolines
By far the most dangerous item for your pool is the diving board. The vast majority of pools are not deep enough for a diving board. The risk of head and spinal trauma is extremely high in pools less than nine feet deep, which is the majority. Even a moderately steep plunge will cause a bottom collision for the swimmer, and the long slope of the shallow end of the pool is a difficult obstacle to avoid when exiting the plunge. Removing the diving board from your pool and encouraging a no diving policy will decrease the chance of a pool accident or injury by up to 50%.
Remember: These pool hazards are associated with the average swimmer, but an unused pool can be just as deadly. Be sure to install an automatic pool safety cover to take the most proactive step toward increasing the safety of your pool.