For families with children and pets, having a pool can be a constant danger in your backyard. Drowning is a real possibility if your pool is not fenced off, or if your children and pets are not monitored at all times.
Even with families that have no children or pets, swimming pools can have a range of hidden dangers you may not always think of in advance. We will cover four of the most common dangers below.
Slippery Decks
One of the most common risks with a pool is the slippery surfaces around in-ground pools or above ground pools. The tile, stone, or wood that is used to make the decking can all become very slick when wet and may cause you to slip and fall when walking or running.
Over time, algae can form on constantly wet or moist surfaces which add to them being more slick and dangerous. When walking on a deck, always try to move slowly and place each foot down securely to prevent slipping, or wear deck shoes that have good sole traction to limit the risk of slipping and falling.
Chemical Dangers
Pools require a lot of different chemicals and some corrosive acids in order to stay clean and crystal clear throughout the season. However, these chemicals will need to be stored somewhere nearby between uses. This will require a separate building or nearby room that can be securely locked tight and kept dry.
Children and pets should also not have access to this room or storage building at any time. You will need to ensure the door and any windows into the storage space have secure locks and the key to those locks should be kept out of reach of young children and teenagers.
Diving Board Injuries
A large number of injuries can be due to using a diving board. Most backyard pools are not deep enough to ensure there is no risk of hitting the bottom when using a diving board. In fact, most if not all backyard diving boards will have warning text on the base saying not to dive in head first.
However, many head, neck, and spine injuries can be received when using a diving board incorrectly. The diver will collide with the bottom of the pool and can cause serious life-altering injuries regardless of their age or experience swimming.
Electrical Dangers
Electrical items and water are not a good mix, but proper maintenance of a pool can require a lot of electrical items including pumps, filtration units, and heaters. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for some people to have radios or lights near their pools during parties or summertime gatherings.
One of the biggest risks is having one of these electric items falling into the pool when people are swimming. Or when getting out of the pool and touching these electrical items such as a radio or light. The risk of electrical shock is extremely high and can cause serious physical damage.
