Intex Pool Safety

Safety is a very important part of owning a swimming pool. Even though pools are fun & enjoyable, they can be very dangerous, especially to young children. According to the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov), drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children of ages 1-4. About 400 children pass away due to drowning in pools and spas annually according to this infographic from poolsafety.gov.

Access to Children

The most important safety aspect of owning an Intex swimming pool is controlling access. Swimming pools are fun, and children are naturally attracted to them. Unfortunately, an innocent child can quickly get into a life threatening situation if they are able to get to a pool without proper supervision. Controlling access to the pool can prevent most accidents. This can be done using fences & gates around the pool, alarms on doors, or simply by removing the ladder from an above ground pool.

Supervision & Attention

Even if access is controlled while adults aren’t using the pool, it can be easy to leave a child unattended. There are many distractions that can turn into an emergency in just a couple of minutes. Checking your cell phone, stepping away to refresh a drink, or just talking to a friend. Any of these normal activities can distract from what’s going on in the pool. Always pay attention to what’s happening, especially with children, while people are using your pool.

Electrical

Another danger found around pools is that of electrical shock. For store bought pools, this is of special concern since the pump/filter systems are plugged in to 120 Volt AC wall receptacles. ALWAYS be sure that your pump, filter, salt water generator, and/or any other related equipment is plugged in to a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupting receptacle (GFCI). The GFCI should be tested regularly to make sure it’s operating properly.

Chemicals

A less critical hazard of owning a swimming pool is related to the chemicals that must be used to maintain good water quality. While these chemicals are not dangerous in the amounts added to pool water, they could be dangerous if they happened to be ingested or spilled directly on the skin. Children are especially at risk because they often do not realize that the things that they get in to can be dangerous. The best way to avoid Chemical accidents is to ensure that the materials you use to sanitize your pool are stored and secured safely. Place them in a locked container or up high, out of reach of children.

Flooding

An additional danger of above ground pools is that of flooding your property. Vinyl walled pools can break suddenly and unexpectedly. This can lead to water damage to your home or lawn. The most critical way to protect against breakage is to make sure your pool is on a level surface. If the water is higher on one side, then this should be corrected. A better location should be selected, or you should work to level out the site and build a solid base.

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