As a swimming pool owner you have a duty of care to ensure the safety of children who may use, or come near, your pool. This responsibility extends not just to your own children or grandchildren, but also to your friends children - and even to neighbours children who may use your pool in your absence and without your knowledge!
Most countries with a high incidence of pool ownership (e.g. America, France, Australia and New Zealand) have enacted tough safety regulations which residential pool owners are obliged to comply with. Punitive fines can be levied for non-compliance. And although rules vary from one country to the next, a common requirement is for the installation of an approved safety barrier to prevent young children entering a swimming pool unseen and without close adult supervision. The most common and popular types of safety barrier are a pool safety fence, pool safety net, safety cover and pool alarm.
Notwithstanding any obligation to conform to local safety regulations, in today's litigious society there's also the risk of being sued if a drowning accident takes place on your property; the more so if it can be demonstrated that you had not taken all reasonable precautions to prevent such an accident.
Of course, we all want our pool experience to be stress-free as well as enjoyable...and most parents accept that it is impossible to 'keep an eye on the kids' 100% of the time. Indeed, statistics reveal that in the 'under 4 years of age' group, 70% of drowning victims are in the care of one or both parents at the time of the accident...and 75% are missing from sight for five minutes or less.
So what can be done to enhance safety in and around your pool? Perhaps a good start might be to print off, and then act upon, the Drowning Prevention tips found at: http://www.poolandpatio.com.cy/en/drowning_prevention_tips.php
