Are Swimming Pools Dangerous?
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Are you a parent or a home owner wondering about how safe (or dangerous) owning a swimming pool really is? This page should help you to understand the nature of swimming pool dangers and what you should be aware of before committing to having a new swimming pool installed. Or buying a house with an older, existing swimming pool because that can carry additional potential for risks likely over and above what a modern, new pool installation might (should) have.
In short, swimming pools are dangerous and they need to be respected and treated as such. One of the worst things you could do would be to make the assumption that pools are not dangerous or to avoid following established best practices for important things like water chemistry and water quality maintenance. Dirty water is one of the greatest threats to human life annually. Dirty, untreated and stagnant water can cause a host of serious or even fatal illnesses. Chlorine is the defining thing that prevents most of the serious water related illnesses, worldwide. Even making a seemingly small choice like deciding to go "chlorine free" to have "healthier" water can have drastic, unintended and unfortunately tragic consequences. This is why having a respect for the potential danger in a swimming pool is so important.
Can swimming pools be safe? - Absolutely yes. Pools can be built to be modern code compliant, avoid entrapment hazards through things like VGBA approved unblockable drain covers and following technical protocols for safety like limiting suction line water velocity to no more than six feet per second. Also knowing the maximum flow rate for every fixture in your pool is also important to make sure you are operating the equipment within the design specifications. Water chemistry when handled using the established chemistry protocol for swimming pools can absolutely be safe to swim in. Here is a refresher if you want to bone up on your pool water chemistry. When built properly, operated properly and maintained properly swimming pools can absolutely be safe. But they can never be completely danger free. There will always be the potential of someone or something accessing the pool when they should not. Pets, children, your own or neighborhood kids...securing your pool are is the most important thing that pool owners need to do with 100% committment. It is easy to get complacent over something (the pool) which is always there, 24/7, just sitting there silently.
Accidents in pools happen quickly - Every account of an accident or death in a swimming pool I have encountered over the past 30 years in this industry had something in common. The accident or death happened so quickly. There was almost no time to react at all. This is why you need to establish a safety protocol for your pool. This means rescue equipment, life rings or buoys, a hook for the telescopic pole, access to fast 911, CPR training...there is a lot you could do to be prepared for the worst. You can also do a lot to prevent accidents from happening by establishing some important rules for the pool, and enforcing them. Not an inclusive list for safety but here are some important pool rules for safety:
1) No running or horseplay on the pool deck
2) No drinking and swimming
3) Absolutely no diving unless the pool is purpose built for this
4) No glass in or near the pool
5) All children must be directly supervised by an adult (who can swim) at all times
6) Water must be clear to the bottom, and chemically balanced
7) When not in use the pool and pool area are secured with unclimbable, self closing and latching fences
8) Access to the pool from the house windows and doors should be monitored / alarmed
9) No alternative chemical treatments unless you yourself are a chemist and/or doctor
10) The pool must meet all current safety, building and anti-entrapment codes
Yes swimming pools can be dangerous but so can sports cars, or any car for that matter. Similarly the people who do not respect the danger are the ones most likely to have a problem or an accident. Fortunately there are many things which you can do to make your pool safer. You can do things like have a high traction pool deck made with broomed concrete (versus something like stamped concrete which can be slippery). You can follow conventional water chemistry methods and commit yourself to actually learning the water chemistry so you are not operating blind or dealing with poor quality water issues all the time.
Most importantly, you can and should contact a local swimming pool professional to come in and perform a safety audit of your pool. Check flow rates, pipe sizes, equipment size, suction points for current code compliance as well as any other deficiencies which might make your pool less safe. A qualified electrician would also be a wise investment to verify the pool is bonded and grounded, as well as inspecting the pool light to make sure it is installed safely. Be sure to watch this video where I talk about the individual dangerous parts of swimming pools.
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Swimming Pool Steve is an award winning, second generation swimming pool and spa specialist from Ontario Canada. With over 10,000,000 views on the Swimming Pool Steve YouTube Channel, winner of the 2018 Pool & Spa Industry Leadership award and author of hundreds of pool and spa articles both online and in print Steve is committed to helping pool and spa owners as well as pool and spa industry workers learn more about the technical side of building, renovating, repairing and maintaining all types of swimming pools and spas. Follow Swimming Pool Steve on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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