Swimming Pool Fence
Swimming Pool Fence for Children’s Safety
Each year, according to statistics, 65 percent of children drownings happen at the child’s own
home swimming pool, 22 percent at a relative’s pool and 11 percent at a neighbor’s pool. In United States, pool
drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death that happened in or near the home for kids aged 5 years
and below.
In the states of Arizona, California and Florida, it is the number one cause of the death of
these children. Moreover, near drownings happen more frequently, eleven incidences out of one drowning. Many near
drowning cases have caused debilitating brain damage.
The lack of adult supervision accounts for most of these accidents together with the absence of
proper swimming pool barriers such as a swimming pool fence. While many cities have put in place
residential pool safety regulations, it is still up to the homeowners to follow them.
Aside from compliance to these regulations, parents or any swimming pool owner who have kids at
home should apply precautions including controlling children’s access to the pool by installing a swimming pool
fence and always supervising children whenever they are swimming or near the pool.
Even with adult or parental supervision, children often find a way to wander into places on
their own. This is why experts highly advise that residential pool owners must make their pools child proof.
Erecting a swimming pool fence is one effective layer of protection for children who happen to stray into the pool
area.
Without a barrier to the pool, a child can easily fall into the pool and drown, which is exactly
what happens in an alarming number every year. Other ways to prevent these tragic accidents are installing door
alarms, swimming pool alarms and a pool safety cover.
When installing a swimming pool fence, make sure you choose the proper one at the least 4 inches
high. An effective barrier should prevent children from entering the pool area 100 percent, which means the child
should not be able to get over the fence, crawl under it or squirm their way through it. The only way they can
access the pool is when they are with an adult.
Like with any accident, most people simply think it can never happen to them until tragedy
strikes. Parents may think that close supervision is enough to protect their kids but government statistics tell
otherwise.
Reports show that in 69 percent of children drownings, one or both of the child’s parents were
in charge of supervising the child at the time the accident happened. Other adults (relatives or friends) were
responsible for guarding the child in 10 percent of the drownings. Baby sitters accounted for 14 percent and
siblings at 7 percent. These statistics point out that adult supervision is not enough to keep your children from
harm. Having a proper swimming pool fence installed completely around the pool gives a vital layer of protection to
children.
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