The 10 Most Common Swimming Pool Dangers

In the back of their minds, all swimming poolmedium pet or small child without pulling into the
owners know the risk of having a silent, lurkingpool. They can look tempting to walk on, but any
body of water in the back yard. Even more soperson or animal that walks out onto a swimming
for families with children, a swimming pool can bepool winter cover is in serious jeopardy.
a silent killer. Consider this top ten list of the most4) Suction Lines
common, and most dangerous swimming poolThe swimming pool suction points, most
deficiencies:commonly the skimmer and the main drain are
10) Electricaldirectly connected to the front of powerful
Proper electrical wiring for a swimming pool and allswimming pool pumps. The power of a pool pump
its components is critical since water, electricityis more than enough the cause sever and life
and people are a dangerous mix. Swimming pools,threatening injury. The warning label that comes
and all metal components within one meter of theon new main drains, skimmers and pool pumps
water line should be bonded with a heavy groundstates that the pool pump has enough force to
wire loop. Additionally all electrical devices thattrap, drown and disembowel you should you
come into close contact with water such asunwittingly cover the suction point with any part
pumps and lights must be properly connectedof your body. Tragically every year more children
with a GFIC or ground fault interrupter.are killed this way from single suction main drains
9) Slippery Deckswhich are now illegal. Dual suction main drains
As swimming pool deck surfaces age andspaced apart are now required so that you can
weather they will develop algae and become verynot cover both suction points at the same time.
slippery, especially in wet conditions. To reduceProper use of main drain lids is critical to ensure
the likelihood of falling or slipping on a pool deck,the safety of your swimmers.
you should pressure wash your deck yearly.3) Pool Toys
Additionally a silica sand can be added to yourA surprisingly common source for swimming pool
concrete sealer to provide a more textured andrelated accidents is a result of swimming pool
slip resistant surface.toys which are not suitable for use in a pool.
8) Ladders & StairsSome floatation devices can cause young
Stairs and ladders are a very common place forswimmers to flip over and get trapped upside
injury in a swimming pool. Coloured nosing tile isdown under the water. Large innertubes or
used to accentuate step edges in many pools,inflatable boats are prime examples of items
which helps to define the step edges under thebetter suited for the beach.
moving water. The likelihood for a fall or injury2) Pool Slides
increases at night, and also even more so if thereSwimming pool slides seem like a good idea when
is no underwater swimming pool light to illuminateyou consider children playing in the pool. At the
the water. Ladders often have hand rails installedsame time, a pool slide is literally like letting your
into the pool deck which can become loose overchildren play on a 9 foot tall ladder overtop of
time. If the ladder rails shift as you are climbingconcrete. Pool slides are less and less common
out of the water, this will greatly increase the riskthese days, and for good reason as they are the
of a fall.second most common cause of serious injury in a
7) Water Qualityswimming pool.
Do not underestimate your green swimming pool.1) Diving Boards
Harmful bacteria can reside in poorly maintainedBy far the most dangerous element to your
water. It is critical to ensure that the water qualityswimming pool is the diving board. The vast
is suitable for swimming to prevent infections andmajority of swimming pools are not deep enough
staph infections of the eyes, ears, nose andfor a diving board. The risk of spinal and head
throat. Chemical levels in the water can alsotrauma are extremely high in pools less than nine
affect those prone to skin reactions.feet deep, which most are. Even a moderately
6) Chemical Storagesteep dive will cause a collision at the bottom for
Your swimming pool chemicals are a potent mixthe swimmer, and the long slope of the pool
of strong acids, alkalines and poisons. Even worseshallow end is a tricky obstacle to avoid when
is that many of these chemicals specifically reactpulling up from the dive. Removing the diving
with one another, yet they are often stored inboard from your pool and encouraging a no diving
the same location with little effort to keep thempolicy will decrease the likelihood of a swimming
safe. Chemicals should be researched and storedpool accident or injury by as much as 50%.
in a controlled, dry and locked location at all times.Remember - these swimming pool dangers relate
5) Pool Winter Coversto the average swimmer, but an unused pool can
Winterization covers are often just large tarpsbe just as deadly. Be sure to install an automatic
stretched over the pool with sand or water bagsswimming pool safety cover to take the single
pinning them down at the edges. These are notmost proactive step towards increasing the
strong enough to support the weight of asafety of your swimming pool.