Pools are for laughter and enjoyment but remember they are a lot of responsibility as well. Aside from maintenance and costs, they can also pose a threat to your children and pets. The pool is a place for fun, but let’s make it as safe as possible! Here are some ideas on how to make your child and pet safe for the summer. First, invest in a fence and make sure the pool is only accessible through a one-way gate. It would be ideal if the gate was a self-latching one. Ensure that only adults and teens can open the gate – baby-proof everything outside. For smaller pets, make certain they cannot squeeze through and sneak into the pool.
Second, be sure the pool area is cleaned. Pool toys and inflatable are enticing to toddlers and can cause accidents if left around the edges of the pool. An outdoor storage case is easy to find at Walmart of Academy and makes an excellent place to store your pool toys during winter as well. Third, keep all chemicals away from little ones and pets. All pool supplies, chemicals and toys, and other such things can be stored together for organizational purposes.
However, it is essential to separate the chemicals (that only adults should be using) and the toys (which may be available to teens and children). Lastly, it may be helpful to lay down some ground rules about the pool for everyone to follow. Simple things like “no running” or “no propping the gate open” or “always be sure someone is watching the children,” can be addressed to the whole family and reinforced every time the pool is being used.
Make pool care apart of the family’s daily chores liking checking to see if the gate is closed and if the pool area is clean. To protect our vulnerable and adorable family members, it takes the family as a whole to protect and stay vigilant. If everyone puts in the effort to guard children and pets, then hanging out by the pool will feel less like a chore and more like family fun time!