Backyard Pool Safety Tips

How you can keep yourself and your family safe while using a backyard pool.

• Have a four-sided pool fence that does not attach to the house or any otherbuilding.
• The pool fence should have a self-closing and self-latching/locking gate that is designed so that children cannot access it from the outside (i.e. an adult needs to reach over the fence to release the latch)
• The pool fence should be a minimum of 1.5 metres in height, with gates of at least 1.4 metres in height.
• Ensure that you have safety equipment (reaching pool, throw rope or ring buoy) on hand and available at the pool whenever it is in use.
• The fence should be made of a material or combination of materials that cannot easily be climbed.
• When not in use the pool and surrounding area should be cleared of all toys or other materials. Any toys or items left behind are an automatic magnet for young children.
• If a pool cover is used it should always be placed all the way onto the pool, never left half on or half off, and being able to lock it in place is recommended.
• Pool alarms for gates or motion detectors that float in the pool are one level of protection, but should not be depended on to keep a child out of the water.
• When the pool is in use, there always needs to be an adult supervising the swimmers. This is their sole responsibility, and cannot be combined with using a phone, cooking, etc.
• Adult supervisors/parent lifeguards for young children (6 and under) should always be Within Arms’ Reach of their child to help ensure safety.
• For smaller pools (paddling pool, Mr. Turtle Pool) they should be emptied after every use and stored upside down so that they do not collect water.
• For aboveground pools (rigid or inflatable), when not in use the pool cover should be securely fastened, and all ladders or other entry devices moved far away from the pool and secured so that children cannot gain access. Just like an in-ground pool, there should be a four-sided pool fence around these items.
• Chemicals for use in any type of pool must be kept secured away from the pool itself. Access to the chemicals should be restricted to an operator who is using the appropriate safety equipment.