| A pool can be one of the nicest features of a | | | | unfortunate accidents less common. Make sure |
| home, providing cooling refreshment in the | | | | that if you are inside with your children, that all |
| summer and also a reason to bring family and | | | | doors leading to the pool (like sliding glass doors) |
| friends together. Taking care of a pool means | | | | also remain locked. The idea is to create many |
| more than just making sure the PH levels are | | | | barriers to the pool. |
| adjusted correctly, it also means that the pool | | | | Do not forget to talk to your child about pool |
| must be secured so that it does not become the | | | | safety, telling them that they can never swim |
| scene of an accident. Pool security is an important | | | | without an adultpresent. Also, if you own a pool, |
| part of home security. | | | | your child should be taking swimming classes and |
| Did you know that drowning is a leading cause of | | | | you, the adult, should learn CPR and first aid in |
| death in children ages 1-4? Or that in many | | | | case of an accident. |
| jurisdictions, a home owner can be held liable if an | | | | The last thing to keep in mind is to install a home |
| intruder (ie, neighborhood child) uses the pool | | | | security system that also protects your pool. |
| without permission, and drowns? Most pool | | | | There are many home alarm systems that |
| owners do not need to be convinced that it is | | | | include motion monitors for the pool that can |
| important that there pool remain safe and secure | | | | never be turned off, only put on sleep mode, |
| both from intruders and from their children | | | | which means that if any child falls into the pool or |
| entering alone. | | | | jumps in, an alarm will sound, alerting the home |
| The first step in increasing pool security is to | | | | owners. |
| make sure that the perimeter of the pool is | | | | The home alarm system is more than a way to |
| surrounded by a fence with a lock that is not | | | | protect the home; it is also a way to protect the |
| easy for a child to open: it should be above their | | | | family. Remember, the vast majority of child |
| reach and require two step process, that small | | | | deaths from drowning occur in their own pools, |
| minds cannot decipher. Second, make sure that | | | | and with family members at home. Most of the |
| inflatable pool toys are not stored in plain sight, | | | | families who experience such a tragedy come |
| but rather in a locked trunk or shed. Small children | | | | from high income backgrounds and are normally |
| are often tempted by the presence of toys or | | | | very watchful parents. This tells us that desire to |
| think that even if they do not know how to | | | | protect one's children is not enough: a pool alarm |
| swim, they will be able to float with these objects. | | | | is a vital tool to ensure that the pool remains a |
| Remember, good home security systems are not | | | | place of relaxation and diversion, and not death |
| just about home alarms, but also about making | | | | and tragedy. |