Winter Swimming Pool Safety Tips | Little Pool Pirates

Yes, more accidents occur around pools during the warmer months of summer. But, fatal accidents are not uncommon during the off-season in both hot-weather sunbelts and freezing northern pools. It's crucial to refresh your knowledge about winter pool safety by utilizing the following suggestions.

It's easy to become less conscious of your pool and the risk it poses during winter. Who wants to go swimming? In that frigid water! But it's vital to not let your guard fall in the winter months. Inadvertent submersion, whether young or elderly or falling onto the pool cover, with just a few inches of water in it could result in death.

Be alert to people and pets that may be spotted near the pool in the season when it is not in use, particularly if you don't have a secure fence enclosure or a pool safety cover. If your house will host guests over the holiday season, be it for a small gathering or a huge holiday dinner with your family, be attentive to safety in the pool to ensure your guests arrive home in a safe manner.

Here are some suggestions to ensure safety in winter pools. We've also included some suggestions regarding improving the safety of pools that have floating, solid winter covers for pools.

Winter Safety based on Type of Pool

Portable Pools:

Intex pools that have covered portable pools shouldn't be kept up in winter. Period. The best way to ensure safety for pools that are portable, like Intex Frame Set or Easy Set pools (shown right) Intex Frame Set or Easy Set pools (shown right), is to drain them and dry them, then fold them and put them away.

Portable pools are typically not protected by sufficient perimeter fences or alarms. They are also incredibly adaptable, which makes them ideal for a child to roll on or use a nearby seat to climb on.

Therefore, unless you're located in the warm, deep south, and you're using your pool often, it's best to put it away to be used in the winter months. It's ideal for your pool and also for the safety of your family members.

Above Ground Pools:

If we're talking about steel-sided above-ground pools there are some essential safety measures that will ensure your loved ones are protected during winter.

Above ground pool that has been winterized. Remove any objects in your backyard which could serve as steps.

Take down or lock any ladders that are connected to a deck attached to the pool.

If the deck for the pool is connected to the house and the house, you should install second fencing to stop the entrance to the pool.

If you own a complete deck with a surround, you should install the protection cover.

Inground Pools:

In the case of inground pools, there are usually a number of security considerations to be aware of. To keep your pool safe location this winter, you should follow these guidelines.

In-ground pool with winter pool coverCheck your fence frequently for repairs during winter.

Make sure to lock all gates that aren't often used.

If you're using a solid winter cover that has the use of water bags (pictured right) You can make use of a pool alarm to notify you of water-related disturbances.

Keep solid cover of the pool pump off and clean. They should also be over-weighted.

If you can, put in a protective cover.

Winter Tips to Avoid Sunbelt Pools

Sunbelt pools with iconPools in southern states and areas with mild winters do not always winterize the pool. Most don't cover the pool in winter either. This makes the safety of winter pools more difficult particularly when the pool isn't in the spotlight as it is in the summer months.

Safety Covers Cost: $2 per square. feet. for rectangles and $2-4 for squares. feet. for custom-designed safety covers. For many sunbelt swimming pools, a security pool cover is the best option to increase winter pool security. The cover ensures the cleanliness of the pool and helps reduce chemical usage and water loss.

SAFETY NETS: With an expense of $2-4 for each square. feet. Safety nets are typically installed by an individual dealer. They permit you to view the pool's water while blocking entry for children animals, pets, or even wildlife. Safety nets are more straightforward to remove and replace as compared to safety covers, yet function in a similar way.

SAFETY FENCE: With the cost of $9 to $15 per square foot of linear space, these removable pool fences that are safe for swimming surround the pool. They can be attached to the existing wall or fences in winter. After that, they can be taken down and folded up for storage in summer. One of their advantages is that they provide an easy entry into the pool area for testing chemicals or cleaning as needed and also provide a strong barrier against entry to the pool.

Check that your fences around your pool are in good condition and that the gates have self-closing locks and self-locking. Owners of pools are responsible to ensure their pool is safe for all the people living in their homes and the community.

Security Tips to Stay Safe in Winter Snowbelt Pools

In the case of a pool that has been winterized, hazards may remain in the vicinity of the pool. A pool cover that is safe (mesh or solid) can be the best security barrier in winter. If you have a floating solid swimming pool covering, be sure to consider a few security concerns to know about.

child stranded on the cover of the winter pool that is floating. COVERS: They prevent water to enter the pool. And if not regularly pumped to get rid of snow melt and rain the covers quickly turn dark and murky. Covers that are automatic or solid security covers pose a risk if not removed. However, solid floating covers, like the ones that make use of water bags, are extremely hazardous. Make sure you invest in a high-quality pool cover pump to prevent this kind of issue.

Even with a well-maintained solid covering, the floating look of winter covers could present a risk to safety. If a pet or child falls on an unsupported solid cover floating on the water and it instantly wraps around them in a similar manner as shown towards the right and pulls the surface water toward them swiftly. The cover is tightly wrapped around the body and legs and the weight of water within the pool pressing into it. If you struggle, it only draws you deeper, much like the quicksand.

Fences: Apart from an additional security cover, the pool fence is your most effective protection. Additional fencing may be utilized to create a barrier between the back area from the swimming pool in the event of need. Mesh pool fencing panels that can be removed can be attached to the fence around the pool or wrapped around the back of the porch. These 10' mesh panels are easy to handle.

DOOR ALARMS: When the back of your house is on the fourth side of the pool fence and the back doors are leading towards the pool, put door alarms on the back doors to alert you when the back door is open (when the button for pass through is not activated).

Other tips: Check your fence on a regular basis for holes or lose boards, as well as leaning posts. If gates aren't padlocked make sure they are self-closing and self-latching. Get rid of anything that is near the pool or fence which could allow for a climb for climbing over.

Final Thoughts

It's normal for anxiety to develop during winter. Also, you don't really think about the pool as frequently after summer's gone. The risk of hypothermia or drowning is present, however. Be alert and follow the common sense measures to protect your pool in order to protect your family members.

Covers for pools that are solid, such as the ones below, can be a very popular form of winter-time cover. However, they are hazardous for children or very old individuals, or large animals that happen to fall upon them. The weight of an individual makes the cover wrap tightly around them, and any rain water that is on the top of the cover flows toward the lowest point in the cover.

This is also the case in the event that you walk over a solid water-based pool cover that floats. It will take you just two steps into the pool and then be taken over with the covers. It makes every move difficult and, just like quicksand, the longer you work, the more you'll sink.

Elephant sitting on the safety pool cover

Covers for safety pools, such as the one shown left are able to support even the load of a vehicle as well as an elephant which means they're more than adequate to protect pets and people. If you own a safety pool cover, whether made of mesh or solid material, you'll be able to relax during winter and be assured that they will provide security.

The life expectancy of safety covers is 12plus years. They look fantastic and require minimal maintenance and provide the highest level of winter pool security you can provide to your family, friends and even your pets.

If you don't have a safety cover in the plan for this year, make sure to play wisely! Follow the tips above and ensure that pool safety is at the forefront of your mind throughout the winter.