Tips to keep a pool safe for summer fun

FALLBROOK – Temperatures have soared; summer has definitely arrived. And that means it’s time to hit the swimming pool!

But before jumping in, here are a few tips to help make sure a pool is safe for everyone using it.

San Diego County’s Department of Environmental Health inspects about 4,000 public swimming pools and spas every year to make sure they clean and safe. They only inspect public pools, not private residential pools, but have some helpful pointers.

Stay safe:

Watch the kids! This is absolutely rule number one. The pool is a place for fun. But every year children get seriously hurt or even drown in residential pools all across the U.S., including here in San Diego County.

Parents should teach their kids how to swim (and learn yourself if you don’t know how). If a house opens directly into a pool, a door-alarm should be installed to send an alert when a child opens it. If there isn't already a fence between the house and pool, consider putting one up. Kids wander around a lot and can find their way into the pool even if they’re out of sight for only a minute.

But most importantly – when children are around the pool, or in it, always watch them. And remember, water wings, Styrofoam "noodles" and other toys are not safety devices and children wearing them should not be left unattended.

Check the fences:

If there is a fence and self-closing gate around the pool, check to make sure the spaces between each of its pickets and between the bottom rail and the ground are no more than four-inches apart and the fence is at least five feet tall, so children and animals can’t squeeze through or climb over to get into an unattended pool.

Make sure pool drain covers are visible and intact:

The reality is that if one can't get a clear look at a pool’s drain cover, it won't be possible to see a distressed swimmer under the water or a person entrapped on a drain – and the pool water needs cleaning! If they are visible, make sure they’re not broken or chipped and remind children not to play near them so they can’t get sucked in and trapped.

Have two pieces of safety equipment:

Every pool should have two essential pieces of safety equipment: a life ring (life preserver) with a diameter of at least 17 inches that can be thrown to help struggling swimmers stay afloat, and a safety hook to pull people to safety. One should also consider keeping a phone at the pool while swimming so if it is necessary to make an emergency call, it can be done quickly.

Repair any damage to decking, equipment and pool area:

Make sure pool ladders and pool railings are secure so people aren’t hurt when they rely on them to get in and out of the pool. Repair damage to decking to prevent people from tripping.

Stay clean:

Test pool water routinely. Keeping a pool safe is more than protecting against drowning and physical accidents. It is important to keep the pool water clean too – so people don’t get sick swimming in dirty water.

Testing the chemical balance of the water in the pool is one of the most important things to do to make sure it’s up to par. That’s because that balance – which keeps water disinfected, clean and safe – can be easily thrown out of whack by heavy use, hot weather, rain, and lots of other things. To keep a pool safe, test the chlorine and pH levels at least twice a week and daily if possible.

Don't let sick people swim in pool:

Chlorinating a pool only does so much. It is necessary to keep germs out of the pool. Practice good hygiene. People should not swim when they have diarrhea. If there is an accident in the pool, be sure to clear the pool and follow guidelines for proper cleaning of the water.

Skim, brush and vacuum pool regularly:

There’s a lot of stuff out there that can get into a pool. It will not only make a pool look like a mess, it could make it tougher for chemicals to keep the water clean. Swimmers can carry in sunblock, oils and other items. There’s dust, sediment and leaves blowing in the air that can all make it a lot harder for a filtration system to keep things clean. Use a hand skimmer to clean a pool’s surface, brush the walls, and vacuum its floor often. Don’t forget to remove any leaves and debris in the skimmer baskets.

Keep the pool deck clean:

It only stands to reason – the less mess there is on the deck surrounding a pool, the less stuff that can be blown or carried into it. A good sweeping will go a long way to keeping a pool looking pristine.

Keep the pool filter clean:

Those with a cartridge-based filter should make sure to check, clean or replace the filters when they’re dirty. If using a sand filter, make sure to backwash and clean the filter screens when they need it.