Summer is coming soon. We can almost smell it (in spite of the stinging rains and allergic rhinitis). Surely you have already prepared the garden: the plants spread out, the perfect lawn, the lighting in place, the pool water crystal clear… But have you really thought about everything?

In this article we leave you two basic aspects about pool safety for you to take into account, especially if you have children or animals at home. The goal, as always, is that you can fully enjoy it.

Safety devices

• Fencing. The basic step when it comes to protecting from unwelcome falls into the water is to install a safety fence to prevent them from approaching the pool area unattended. Did you know that there are studies that claim that this prevents 1 out of every 2 accidents among children? The fencing system should have an automatic closing system and be no more than 1.20 m high. It can be made of many materials: methacrylate, glass, polyester or fixed bar, you choose depending on your budget and desired aesthetics. However, it is important that there is no more than 0.1 m of distance between the parts to prevent access through them.
• Protective covers. As specialists in roofing, we are aware that its usefulness goes beyond keeping water clean from external agents or helping to save on maintenance. Their main function is to act as a safety system. When they are extended, they hermetically seal the pool and can support the weight of several people without anything happening. There is a great variety. You can find them very varied, whether they are manual or automatic, integrated… Always make sure that they comply with European standards. We could also mention in this section the so-called winter covers or tarpaulins, with a simpler mechanism. However, from our experience, they are too difficult to install and remove so it is not a system that we would recommend to secure the pool.
• Perimeter alarms. These are sound devices that warn when someone – or something – moves around the perimeter zone covered by the alarm, established between the different posts that make up its operating structure. There are also volumetric alarms, which are activated when a body enters the water. They are usually connected outside the usual hours of use of the garden or swimming pool. There is another third option, more individualized, in the form of a bracelet for the little ones, which would sound when submerged under water. In any case, to be honest, at Capcovers we have not had good experiences with this type of device. From here we emphasize to choose a model of a trusted brand, to know with certainty that it will work properly in the case.

External elements

In addition to making sure that no one wanders around the swimming area without supervision, it is important to use non-slip materials to prevent falls and slips, as well as to place annoying or dangerous obstacles around the pool.

On the other hand, it is equally important to conserve the water of the swimming pool, controlling daily its state and using the chemical products in a suitable way. This way we will avoid skin problems, allergies and even respiratory problems.

In any case, and to conclude, the most effective measure to protect your family is education and common sense. It is not possible to achieve absolute control of their actions, so the first step for their safety would be to get children used to the pool, giving them the necessary guidelines so that they know how to respect it without, of course, fearing it.