While pools are a nice amenity to have during the warm, summer months, they also come with their share of safety hazards when you have children in the home. Unfortunately, drowning is one of the major causes of death in children under 14-years-old. Most of the time, the children drowned in a pool in their own backyard.
To help protect your kids and prevent anything like that from happening to them, you need to invest in a quality pool fence. By having one of these fences installed, you can reduce the chance of your child drowning by as much as 83 percent. Consider the following ways you can keep your kids safe when outside.
Enclose the Pool
When getting a pool fence, you want one that completely closes the pool in. The key is installing the fence where it encloses the pool, without closing off the rest of the backyard. You shouldn’t have to worry about opening the gate to the pool, unless you are actually going to take a swim.
Don’t Install the Fence Yourself
If you are going to get a pool fence installed, you want a trained professional to do the job for you. Buying a high-quality fence isn’t going to do you any good if you don’t have it installed properly. As you choose a fence, you want to look for someone who has experience in installing the fence. Don’t just leave your safety to anyone; choose someone who can get the job done right.
Keep Gates Locked at All Times
Beyond having the fencing in place, you also want to make sure you can easily lock the gate to the area. You don’t want just anyone going in and out of the pool area. Small children can easily open gates and doors, so you need to have child-safety latches installed to keep the area safe. A self-locking or self-closing gate can take things to the next level. Install an alarm to let you know if someone enters the area.
Maintain the Fence
Even though you have the fence installed, that doesn’t mean you don’t need to spend time maintaining it. Check to ensure the gates lock and close correctly. If there are gaps in the fence, you need to get it taken care of right away. Any damaged areas need to be properly addressed.
Go Temporary if Needed
If you can’t install a permanent fence, consider installing a temporary one around the pool. Not only does it give you the peace of mind you need, but it helps save you on installing a permanent fence. A temporary fence is ideal for those who have gatherings where children come over to visit, but there aren’t children living in the home.
Give a professional installer a call today to see what options you have available to you.