Chicago Pool Safety Tips

Enjoy the special moments with friends and family while staying safe all summer long!

Having a pool or spa in your backyard can turn the summer months from an unbearably oppressing furnace into a fabulous party. For all of their benefits, they can present a hazard if used carelessly or improperly. Below are a few tips for keeping the good times rolling while lounging in the hot tub or racing to the deep end.

Establish the Rules

A posted set of rules for using the pool and spa need to be clearly visible while using either of them, and the rule set should be enforced by removing the privilege of enjoying the water attractions. You can have a custom sign made fairly inexpensively at a local sign shop to ensure that the rules will endure through the summers to come.

Keep a Separate Area around Your Spa or Pool

Rules and regulations help prevent accidents when dealing with potentially dangerous substances or areas, and swimming pools are no different. To help reinforce to those whose your pool that the rules you set for it should be followed, put a fence or other barricade around it. While inside the walls, swimmers will know that following the rules is a must. As a side benefit, you’ll keep out some animals that would otherwise be attracted to the sitting water. You should also look at creating a surface area around the pool that lets feet get a proper grip even when there is water splashed all over it.

Maintain Cleanliness

The dangers of keeping a sitting pool of water by your home extends beyond the obvious risks of drowning or slipping. Without the proper treatment, the water can become a home for a wide variety of flora and fauna that support a vibrant ecosystem full of nasty bacteria and germ-carrying insects. Always make sure the chemical treatments are delivered according to their instructions, and regularly clean debris from the pool and spa. Yes, that includes emptying the filters!

Store Safety Equipment Nearby

Next to your pool noodles, inflatable tubes, and squirt guns, you should keep safety equipment on hand in case of emergencies. The most basic set would include a life-saver tube of an adequate size to support anyone who might be swimming alongside a hooked pole so you can reel the victim to safety. A first aid kit will help deal with any cuts, scrapes, or other injuries that occur from falls. If you frequently have children or new swimmers using a pool, it can be helpful to store a few wearable floatation devices like the ubiquitous arm floaties.

Always Supervise Children

Kids have a tendency to throw caution to the wind, off the cliff, and into the canyon below. They may not intend to do so, but the energy and excitement of having a pool to play in means the rules are quickly forgotten unless a supervising adult is there to remind them. Never let children, especially those under the age of 13, use a pool or spa without a responsible pair of eyes looking over them.