Backyard Pool Safety

JodatJuly 13, 2015

Backyard Pool Safety

Backyard pools can provide hours of fun and relaxation, but they can also be extremely dangerous. Implementing pool safety and knowing the most common causes of drowning accidents and fatalities is vital to keeping family and visitors safe. Over 200 young children lose their lives in swimming pool accidents every year in the United States alone. As a pool owner in Florida, it is your responsibility to understand the laws and safety precautions surrounding pool ownership.

The Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act

Florida residents with pools are required to adhere to the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act. This law ensures certain safety precautions are followed. The most important of these safeguards is pool fences. Passed in 2009, the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act was proposed to decrease the number of Florida’s drowning deaths, the largest cause of fatalities that year. Pool fencing requirements include the following:

• There must be a fence or other barrier completely surrounding the pool.
• The minimum height requirement is four feet.
• The fence or barrier must leave a significant amount of space from the pool’s edge.
• Entryways through the fence are required to open outward.
• Entryways must have a self-closing and self-locking device unreachable to children.

Homeowners who refuse to follow these guidelines may be charged with a misdemeanor. The state will typically drop charges if the owners erect the proper fencing and requirements within 45 days and participate in a drowning prevention program.

Supervision is Vital

One of the most basic but significant rules for trained lifeguards is “If you can’t see them, you can’t save them.” This should hold true for backyard pool owners as well. Children should be under active supervision at all times. Even for strong swimmers, it takes only seconds for a child to drown. Tragically, the highest drowning rate in the country involves children ages one to four. Slips and falls on the pool deck or in the pool can result in a variety of accidents. To avoid tragic situations, the American Red Cross recommends to always:

• Designate an accountable adult to supervise children. Never designate a child to supervise another child.
• Stay within arm’s reach of toddlers.
• Create and enforce safety rules, including no diving, always swimming with a buddy, and no running.
• Require young and inexperienced swimmers to wear life-jackets at all times.
• Obtain necessary emergency safety equipment and discuss water safety and emergency responses with your family.

Jodat Law Group – Tampa Bay Personal Injury Law Firm

While summer by the pool can create a lifetime of memories, pool-related accidents do happen. Poolside injuries include slips and falls, chemical reactions to pool additives, and near drowning accidents that may result in long-term medical issues. If you have been involved in any type of pool-related accident, Jodat Law Group can help. If the property owner has not taken the necessary precautions to keep the pool premises safe, they may be guilty of neglect. Our team will examine every aspect of your case to determine how to move forward in the most effective way possible. If you live in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Pinellas or Hillsborough Counties or the surrounding areas, contact us today for a free consultation.