Installing a Pool Fence Can Save Your Child’s Life

When it comes to water safety, you can never be too careful. The danger of drowning is more prevalent than most parents think. A major realization that parents need to come to is that inevitably, even the most vigilant supervision can fail. This is when installing a pool fence in your backyard can be the most important safety decision you’ll ever make.

No Warnings: Drowning Happens Suddenly

According to the World Health Organization, drowning is the number one accidental killer of children under five. It’s terrifying, but true. In fact, drowning accounts for seven percent of all injury-related deaths.

Two-thirds of the time when children are pulled from the water during a drowning incident, they're wearing regular clothes rather than a swimsuit. This means that their parents never expected them to wander near the water. In a shockingly high amount of fatal drowning incidents, the child was last seen less than five minutes before being discovered in the pool.

Being attentive to swimming children is important, but even the most vigilant watcher has the occasional blind spot. Fortunately, pool fences add a critical layer of security to your backyard.

What is a Pool Fence?

A mesh pool fence is an “isolation” barrier that is erected around the perimeter of a pool. At the most basic level, this fence provides an obstacle to prevent little ones from falling into the water. Experts and lawmakers across the nation recognize mesh pool fences as a crucial layer of protection against toddler drowning.

So while you should always keep a close, attentive eye on any children, a pool fence is an extra precaution.

Of course, all pool fences are not created equal. This fence needs to be strong enough to fight back when a child pushes up against it. After all, if the fence is too weak or improperly installed, it can collapse, leaving any nearby children in additional danger of falling into the pool.

For a pool fence to be truly effective, these key elements should be considered:

• The fence should provide a barrier between your back door and the pool area. You'll want to be absolutely sure that your child can't approach the pool unsupervised, even if the door is accidentally left ajar.

• A pool fence should include a self-closing gate that latches automatically. This gate should close and latch itself without requiring any additional steps. Also, the latch should be high enough that it remains out of reach from curious children.

• The fence should be 48 inches tall with slats no more than four inches apart. The higher the fence, the better. This barrier should be too tall for a little one to climb over. When it comes to young children, the highest possible fence is the smartest choice.

A Pool Fence is Only One Layer of Security

The fact is, installing a pool fence can be the most important decision you ever make for your family’s safety. That said, it’s not a catch-all safety measure either. The fence will become most effective when other safety precautions are also taken.

Drowning is preventable, but it takes layers of protection to truly keep your loved ones safe. Beyond installing a pool fence, here are other layers of security that every home should enact:

1. Lock any doors and windows that provide access to the pool. Keep these locks high so that little hands can’t bypass them.

2. Install an alarm inside the pool, as well as an extra alarm that should be worn by the child.

3. Swimming lessons are important for everyone! This includes both kids and adults. After all, it’s never too late to learn how to swim. Children should be trained as early as you and your pediatrician feel comfortable. Infant swim instructors start training babies to roll over and float earlier than you might think.

4. CPR training can be invaluable. An adult trained in CPR can mean the difference between life and death.

The idea behind these layers of protection is to keep children as safe as possible. Each additional layer of protection will significantly reduce the possibility of a drowning tragedy. When used alongside a pool fence, these layers of security can provide parents with much more peace-of-mind.

  

Did you know Enjuris partners with Pool Safely to help prevent child drownings?

Pool Safely is a national public education campaign from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Learn more about how Enjuris and Pool Safely help make water play and summer fun safer for families!