Owning a swimming pool, whether under or above ground, is a big responsibility. Following these swimming pool safety tips can help ensure your family and friends stay safe in your pool. You don’t want them to be one of the 5,500 home pool drowning victims each year.
Before you purchase your pool, be sure to check with your Baldwin Woodville agent about the extra insurance you need to purchase to cover all possibilities. You can find the Wisconsin pool laws here, and the Minnesota pool laws here. Read on to find out the best pool rules, equipment, and safety gear.
Home Swimming Pool Rules
- Constant, active adult supervision at all times.
- Never swim alone.
- Everybody who uses the diving board or pool slide must know how to do it in the correct, safe way.
- No running around the pool. This can prevent everything from a skinned knee to a cracked head, or worse.
- No extreme horseplay in the water. Of course, there will be some splashing, water polo, and other games. At least one adult should stay outside the pool and remain vigilant, to notice right away if somebody goes down and doesn’t come right up.
- No swimming when drunk or using prescription meds that say “don’t operate heavy machinery.”
- Never push someone into the pool. No matter how funny it seems, it is incredibly dangerous.
- Stay away from drain covers in the pool.
- Young children must wear life jackets.
Pool Safety Equipment
- The state required fence should include a self-closing and self-latching gate, out of reach of children, with an alarm on the door.
- Also maintain an alarm attached to the side of the pool that detects motion under the water.
- During the summer, use a strong, mesh cover to prevent falls when in the area but not using the pool.
- When the pool is out of season, use a rigid pool cover to prevent accidents.
- Posted signs with pool rules, whether hand made or purchased.
- Side rails and steps with rubber grips and covers, to allow swimmers to safely enter and exit the pool.
- Depth markers should be applied when the pool is built.
Pool Safety Gear to be in Pool Area at All Times
- First aid kit
- Throw rope
- Lifesaver ring
- Buoys to separate shallow from deep end
- Shepherd’s crook
- Long pole
Following these guidelines can help you, your family, and your friends enjoy your pool for the little bit of summer that we get in Wisconsin and Minnesota! Remember, nothing beats constant adult supervision for Minnesota or Wisconsin home pool safety.
Be sure to contact Baldwin Woodville if you have any questions about installing a backyard swimming pool in Wisconsin or Minnesota.