One of the best ways to prevent a pet from falling into a pool is to put a fence around the pool. At Protect-A-Child Pool Fence, we offer sturdy and transparent mesh pet fences. These fences help keep pets and children out of the water and, at the same time, allow you to enjoy the view of the pool. First of all, install a fence around the pool area.
Depending on where you live, you may be legally required to install a pool fence. Even if you're not, physically locking the pool goes a long way to keeping people and animals from falling into the water. In addition to your pet's safety issues, you should ensure that your pet doesn't make your pool unsafe. If your pool has vinyl siding, it may be best not to let pets in.
A loose claw can puncture and tear through the vinyl siding, severely damaging the pool. In addition, when your pet swims in the pool, it introduces all kinds of body oils, dirt and bacteria. Be sure to keep the pool filter on for a little longer and monitor your free chlorine levels. Treat the pool as you would after intensive use by humans, such as after a pool party.
Keeping a regular record of your levels of free chlorine and other chemicals is the best way to keep your pool and its residents safe. According to the CPSC, there have been 60 electrocutions and almost 50 serious shocks in and around swimming pools since 1990. Knowing what to do if you find an unresponsive child or adult in a pool or spa can be a life-or-death situation. At The Pool Butler, we've provided some useful tips on pet pool safety to make sure your pets are safe this summer.
Pollack recommends that people designate an adult as solely responsible for watching children in pools and spas. This can include designating “pool hours”, not allowing children to swim with their pets, and not running by the pool. If you have a security system, cameras or pool alarms, they can also be useful to detect when someone enters the pool, as long as you use them wisely. For more information on how to keep your pool safe, see the Department of Environmental Health's explanatory video on swimming pool inspection.
You may want to contact your vet and confirm if your pet is healthy enough to swim in the pool. During the swimming season, an automatic safety cover makes it easy to close the pool when not in use. As an additional precaution, you can set a portable pool alarm for your child or pet; that way, you'll also know who has entered the pool. Summer is just around the corner, which means that children will soon be out of school, temperatures will rise and the pool season will be in full swing.
You and your children should be able to walk in the water for at least one minute; swim at least 25 meters; enter and exit the water above your head; turn around in the water to find an exit; and leave the pool without stairs, steps, or ramps. This is stated by Ellyn Pollack, leader of the Pool Safely campaign, a public education campaign led by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that works to reduce child drownings and other incidents in swimming pools and spas. If possible, give your pets a chance to play in the water and learn to swim before taking them to the pool. Removable fences are the most common safety barrier for swimming pools, says Reed Hauge of All-Safe Pool Fence & Covers.
The Pool Safely campaign was created as part of Virginia's Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act (VGB), named after the 7-year-old daughter of Nancy and James Baker IV, son of former Secretary of State James Baker III...
