Good Reasons for Thinking Safety First

Serious injuries and even death can result from unsafe use of pools, pool equipment and associated products. Here are some examples:

Drowning — Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in this country, especially for children under five.
Paralysis — Improper diving or sliding, alcohol consumption, horseplay, or rough housing in and around swimming pools.
Burns/Fires — Chemicals needed for clean, sanitized water are potentially harmful when stored or used improperly. If mixed with other chemicals or elements, explosions and fire can occur. Read the label and follow manufactures' instructions. Always store chemicals where children cannot reach them.
Electrical Shock/Electrocution — Make sure all electrical appliances and devices are protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
Cuts, Contusions and Abrasions — Slipping and falling can result in cuts or scrapes or broken legs and arms. Horseplay, improper use of equipment or failure to follow manufacturers' instructions.

Drowning Prevention Tips

Never leave a child alone out of supervisory eye contact supervision in or near the pool - not even for a second.
If you must leave the pool area, even for one minute, take your child with you.
Do not allow anyone of any age to swim alone.
Teach your children to swim.
Floating toys attract youngsters. Remove toys from the pool when not in use.
Keep toys, particularly baby walkers, tricycles or wheel toys away from the pool.
Make certain that all doors leading from the house to the pool area have a self-closing, self-latching mechanism above the reach of toddlers to protect against unauthorized entry and use.
A fence, wall or natural barrier should be of sufficient height to keep unauthorized people out of your pool.
Keep lifesaving equipment next to the pool.
Do not permit playful screaming for help.

Never leave a child alone in or near a pool, spa or any other body of water!

Above ground ladders

Remember to secure, lock or remove the ladder to prevent access when the pool is not in use.
Face the ladder for going up or down.
Never swim between the wall and the ladder or thorough the ladder risers. Death by drowning may result.
Allow only 1 person at a time on the ladder.
Never allow anyone to dive or jump from the ladder.
Check all nuts and bolts regularly to make sure the ladder stays sturdy and safe.

Guidelines for Using Inground Pools

Diving and Sliding

Do not allow any diving or headfirst entry into any pool until you are sure the pool is designed for diving and meets all standards for diving pools, such as the NSPI standards. Consult your pool builder or NSPI member if you have any doubts.
It is recommended that "No Diving" signs be placed at all areas of the pool where diving is not appropriate.
Never use alcohol or drugs while diving or swimming.

Some do's and don't of diving.

Do's

Do know the shape of the pool bottom and the water depth before you dive or slide headfirst.
Do plan your path to avoid submerged obstacles, surface objects or other swimmers.
Do hold your head up, arms up, and steer up with your hands.
Do keep arms extended and head and hands up.

Don'ts

Don't drink and dive.
Don't dive into an aboveground pool.
Don't dive or slide headfirst in the shallow part of the pool.
Don't dive across the narrow part of the pools.
Don't run and dive.
Don't do a back dive; backyard pools are not built for this dangerous dive.
Don't try fancy dives; keep the dives simple.
Don't put diving or sliding equipment on a pool that wasn't designed for it.
Don't swim or dive alone.
Don't dive into unfamiliar bodies of water.

General Use of Pool Slides
If you use a pool slide, you must have a landing area with adequate clearance over the deck or the edge of the pool (the coping), and with an appropriate depth of water. Follow the slide manufacturer's specifications regarding clearance and depth, installations and proper use.

Jumping
Jumping incorrectly into shallow water can be dangerous, and injuries, such as a broken leg, can occur if you hit bottom with sufficient force. Before jumping, know the depth of the water and look out for any submerged obstacles, surface objects or other swimmers.

Exercise and Fitness
Your pool provides a place for convenient, effective exercise. It can be used for both serious lap swimming and for performing calisthenics and other exercises. Before beginning any exercise program, consult your physician.

Exercise for flexibility, aerobics and strength are easier in water than on land, because being in water effectively lessons (particularly for older people or those with painful joints or weak leg muscles) to do calisthenics in water. Learn more about these kinds of water exercise form a booklet called "The New Aqua Dynamics: Water Exercises to Fit Any Body" which is available at Water World for $9.99.

Entertaining

Whether having a party or just having a few people over for a swim, think about the number of invited guests and their swimming skills.
Plan ahead. Children require more of your attention.
Use only unbreakable dishes, beverage containers and utensils. Never use glass anywhere near the pool.
Keep electrical appliances a significant distance from the pool. Don't use extension cords.
Insist that poor swimmers or non-swimmers among your guests stay in water that is not over their heads.
If you use your pool at night, provide adequate lighting in and around the pool so that the pool bottom is clearly visible.
Persons who have been drinking alcohol should not be allowed in the pool, and should be carefully supervised in the area surrounding the pool.
Prohibit horseplay, especially throwing or pushing someone into the pool.
Prohibit activities such as diving through an inner tube. Serious head or neck injuries could occur.
Do not allow running on the pool deck, as injuries may occur from slips and falls.
Stay out of your pool during lightning or rainstorms.
"Alcohol or drugs do not mix with pool activities"

Lifesaving Equipment
Have at the poolside a device such as a solid pole, a rope or a life ring, which can provide immediate assistance to a person in trouble.

Rope and Float Lines
If your pool has variations in depth, install and secure a rope and float line across the width of the pool just before the point where the deep end slope begins alerting swimmers and divers to the separation of the deep end and the shallow end of the pool.

Adequate Lighting
If the pool is used after dusk, adequate lighting must be provided.

Maintenance of Pool Water

Keep the pool clean and clear of debris.
Keep the pool filled to its proper level. Periodically check the water levels.
When opening your pool each year, have the water professionally tested to ensure safe swimming, and replace your own testing reagents. Professional testing should be continued every 4-6 weeks for the season.

First Aid
Have a complete first aid kit at poolside, and make sure that someone knows how to use the contents properly.

Chemical Safety

Before using chemicals, read the labels and directions carefully. Follow the label instructions exactly. And keep all chemicals out of the reach of children.

Storage

Make sure the lids are closed tightly when not in use.
Do not stack different chemicals on top of one another.
Store your pool chemicals in a clean, cool, dry, well ventilated area, preferably of the floor, to prevent contamination from other materials.
Especially, do not store chemicals near the pool heater.

Usage

Never mix two chemicals together.
Always add the chemicals directly to the pool.
Always add chemicals to water.
Never add chemicals to the pool water while swimmers are using the pool.
Carefully clean up any spilled chemicals with large amounts of water, to dilute and wash away the chemicals.
Test the water in your pool with a reliable test kit on a schedule recommended by your pool professional. As a rule the more people who use your pool, the more frequently you should test the water.
Never reuse old chemical containers.
If you have any questions regarding safe handling, storage or use of pool chemicals, contact Water World.