Summer is quickly approaching. With the warm weather, Floridians often cool off in their pools. Unfortunately, that also means more pool deaths. For example, the Daytona News Journal has reported that a 4-year-old girl drowned in a backyard pool on March 22, 2011. Initial reports suggest she was in the pool for up to 10 minutes underwater before she was found.
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Florida pool owners can be held responsible for deaths and personal injuries when they fail to properly supervise pool goers or when they fail to secure pools that are not in use. A duty to supervise includes knowing the swimmers skill level, making sure you keep an eye on people at or near the pool, and enforcing rules that prevent pool goers from running and diving or. The requirement to secure the pool when not in use comes from local government ordinances that penalize pool owners that do not keep pools fenced, covered, and/or alarmed. These requirements have been put in place to prevent kids from falling into the pool when adults are not present.
The pool should be a fun place to cool off. The way to make sure everyone stays safe is to follow these quick and easy safety precautions:
- Make sure there are fences or gates around all four sides of the pool when is not in use.
- Make sure the fence or gate is not less than four feet high and that the latch on the gate is higher than the child’s reach.
- Place door alarms on all doors that produce a loud and audible sound throughout the house when the door is opened.
- Have rescue equipment such as life preservers and a phone nearby the pool.
- Remove all toys from the pool after use so children aren’t tempted to get in.
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