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Safety

Safety items, including pool safety, no diving and caution signs, should be properly installed and/or displayed for the safety of all pool users. We strongly recommend pool owners to request additional safety related publications from the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP), including: “The Sensible Way To Enjoy Your Pool,” “Children Aren’t Waterproof” and “Pool and Spa Emergency Procedures for Infants and Children.” These APSP publications can be ordered from the APSP by calling or writing them at APSP, 2111 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 500 Alexandria, VA 22314, (703) 838-0083, or by visiting the APSP consumer Web site at www.theapsp.org.

Any use of slides, diving boards or any other features or equipment must be in strict compliance with the respective manufacturer’s specifications, current Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP) / American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, as well as local building codes and regulations. Before anyone uses a swimming pool, diving board or slide, they must first familiarize themselves with the depth of the pool. We encourage you to always enter any body of water feet first.

Keep a first aid kit and life saving equipment in close proximity to your pool. Do not allow unsafe or risky behavior in or around the pool. We encourage you to always maintain constant adult supervision when children are in or near any body of water.

Install fences, barriers and pool covers to prevent unsupervised access, especially by young children. Inspect your pool, barriers, alarms and other related equipment on a regular basis to ensure that they are in good working order and that they are safe. Maintenance and safety manuals contain detailed tips and recommendations and should be read, followed and applied on a regular basis.

Pool Safety Products for Above Ground Pools:

Fence

Above ground pools should have a fence barrier installed around the top edge of the pool and along the stairway leading up to the swim platform. The stairs to the above ground pool should also be gated if they are not retractable.

Alarms

Above ground pool alarms are also a great safety product. Above ground pool alarms use a new sensing method that requires no adjustments and is designed to detect intrusions similar to a 1- year old child weighing 18 pounds and up. The alarm is activated with an on/off key - simply remove the key to turn the alarm on. Entry into the pool by children, pets, or intruders is detected by the unit's electronic sensor, and sets off a loud, pulsating alarm both in the home and at the pool. The in-house remote receiver has a range up to 200 feet,and comes with a 12-volt power supply. Safe, simple, and easy to operate, the alarm snaps onto the top rail of your above ground pool. To store your alarm while using the pool, snap it on the outside of the pool.

Rails

Swimming pool hand rails and stair rails provide an extra protection against slipping on stairs and steps.

Signs and Markers

Pool signs and depth markers are also extremely important to have in the pool area. These pool depth markers can be applied to vinyl, ceramic tile and tempered glass overlays. Signs that should be in your pool area can include “No Jumping”, “No Diving, Shallow Water” and “Slippery When Wet”.

Safety Equipment

You should also have basic safety equipment available such as lifesaver rings and a Shepherd’s Crook.

Chemical Safety

  • ALWAYS follow label directions when adding any pool chemicals to the pool.
  • NEVER mix different types of chlorine.
  • NEVER mix chemicals together.
  • DO NOT use quantities in excess of the recommended dosage on the label.
  • After shock treating, you MUST wait until the free available chlorine residual is at the level recommended by the label instructions.
  • KEEP ALL CHEMICALS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. Containers should always be kept closed when not in use.
  • DO NOT use contents of unlabeled containers.
  • NEVER add water to chemicals. Always add chemicals to water.
  • PROPERLY DISPOSE of all containers.
  • WASH YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY after handling the chemicals.
  • USE A SEPARATE, CLEAN PLASTIC MEASURING CUP for each chemical.