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Safety guidelines for home pools

08.25.2021 · Posted in Real Estate Articles

Many accidents can happen in and around a swimming pool, and drowning in one is one of the major causes of death among young children. This is one of the reasons that Australia has such stringent laws and regulations with regard to having a pool in your home. These regulations are meant as a preventive method to help keep young children and even pets safe from drowning accidents.

Drowning can be silent, because the person drowning, especially if it is a child, is unable to make any sound or scream to draw attention, and therefore no one will know about it until it is too late. Children are always drawn to water which is why they love spending time in swimming pools and by the beach etc, but this is exactly what can draw them to such a hazard prone area in your home, especially when they are unsupervised.

For properties with pool facilities, it is mandatory that they get a certificate of conformity issued to them to confirm that they have adhered to the local authority regulations with regard to pool safety. If you are looking at buying a property, then it is always best to check that the seller already has got the certification, because otherwise you will be burdened with getting the pool inspection in Sydney done, in order to get the certificate. While a seller can always sell the property without this, it is in the best interest of the buyer to ensure that the pool already conforms to the safety regulations, since if the inspector carrying out the pool safety inspection in Sydney or elsewhere finds that you have not adhered to the regulations, then you will have to spend on getting these matters rectified.

So, what are the requirements for a pool in terms of maintaining safety standards?

  • Fencing – Fencing should be constructed all around the area, and be at least 1.2 metres in height. It should be able to restrict access to the area, and should not allow for any gaps between the ground and the fencing or in-between posts where a small child could creep through to the other side. You should also ensure that the fence is not climbable, and is permanently fixed.
  • Non-climbable zone – Maintaining a non-climbable zone around the fencing is very important, by making sure there are no boxes or other items in the near vicinity which children can use to prop themselves up on the fence or climb over it.
  • Gates – Pool gates should be made to swing outwards away from the pool itself, and should be self-closing. Latches on these gates should be located at least 1.5 meters above ground level and should be self-locking, so that if anyone forgets to lock the gate it will not matter.
  • Filtration – Whatever type of pool you have, the filtration and water re-circulating system should be one that is according to the set standards, since children could get trapped by its suction.
  • Maintenance – All safety features should be well maintained and in proper working order at all times.
  • Lifesaving skills – It is important that everyone in the home is well trained on life saving and resuscitation skills in case of an emergency.

It is vital to be aware of children’s whereabouts at all times, especially very small children. It is not only swimming pools that could be a drowning hazard, but any area where there is water since it takes only 6 inches of water for a child to drown in. Ponds, fish tanks and other such areas should be covered or fenced in so that children are unable to get near them. If a child is missing and has not been seen for some time, always check such water borne areas first.

In addition to the above set regulations, there are also a number of other things you can do to safeguard your children from such dangerous situations.

  • Gate alarms – Installing a gate alarm is vital, so that you are aware whenever someone opens the pool gate.
  • Pool alarms – This type of alarms sound off when there is any unusual disturbance in the water, so you can be alerted if someone goes into it without your knowledge.

Adhering to the standards set by the local authority is very important in order to prevent these accidents, even though it might be an additional cost to you to keep these well maintained and in proper order. However, the peace of mind that you get from installing these safety precautions cannot be valued in monetary terms, after all it is your children and your loved ones you are protecting.

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