Staying Safe Around Your Pool: Common Risks & How to Avoid Them 

With Summer in full swing, it is easy to be wrapped up enjoying the sunshine, and to let basic maintenance practices slip a bit – especially around pools! Even a bit of neglect can lead to serious health and safety issues, which means big problems for property owners. Everyone knows that it is important to monitor young children in the water, and for inexperienced swimmers to wear life jackets, but there are also more subtle safety risks that everyone should be aware of! 

What to Watch Out For Inside Your Pool 

Jumping into pool water can be a great way to beat the heat, but if you don’t know what you are jumping into it, it can also be a risk. From organic issues to imbalanced chemicals, pool safety looks different inside your pool, then it does on the outside. 

• Pool Chemicals: Sanitizers and pool chemicals are key to maintaining water balance. Everyone wants crystal clear water but getting there isn’t always easy. Regular maintenance around a swimming pool or hot tub is a delicate balance and can be difficult to keep up with, particularly in high traffic environments. If you can smell chemicals, it means that chlorine levels are too high and can lead to skin or eye irritations. In the same way that too many chemicals will lead to irritations, too few can lead to recreational water illnesses and e-coli poisoning. 

• Electrical Exposure:  It is no secret that electricity and water do not mix, but some of the most common cleaning tools operate using electricity. Something as simple as a pool vacuum can lead to painful shocks, if not kept in good condition. This is true of all electrical components, so proper inspections are key to ensuring that there is no risk of shock to swimmers. 

• Debris: It is not uncommon to spot leaves, seed pods, pollen or insects floating across pool surfaces. Removing debris before diving into a pool is always a good idea, but if you notice more clutter than usual, it might be time to take a look at your pool filter. A floating skimmer basket might help to collect some items but it is no match for a high function filtration system. 

What to Watch Out For Outside Your Pool 

In the same way that routine pool maintenance is key to keeping water clean, it is important to monitor the surrounding areas as well. Taking stock of the pool area can be just as important as water safety, so we have compiled a list of common hazards that should be looked at. 

• Diving Boards: Diving boards can be great fun but they can be also be dangerous. Diving into a shallow end can result in back or neck injuries – but so can falling off! If boards are not cleaned regularly, they are subject to algae growth, which makes surfaces slippery. Cleaning of pool equipment should be done alongside routine pool cleaning and maintenance, to protect against slips, falls and muscle pulls. 

• Storing Pool Chemicals: Having chemicals on-hand makes it simple and easy to shock your pool and monitor pH levels, but these chemicals are dangerous. It is important to ensure that any harmful items be kept locked away in the presence of children. Something as simple as a lockable storage bin can mean the difference between safe storage of sanitizers and testing kits, and a major accident. 

• Protect Surrounding Areas: Whether you have a backyard pool or are caring for a commercial outdoor swim space, you can’t monitor these spaces all day. Pool fencing can prevent unnecessary accidents from occurring, particularly with children or animals. Having a self closing and self latching gate will make it easier to keep unexpected visitors out and can even help out with insurance premiums.