I hate to say it, but sometimes it is true. There have been times in the past when homeowners have installed a really safe and secure swimming pool fence and it just wasn’t enough to stop a drowning from happening.
I’m telling you this because if you own any sorts of home swimming pool, it definitely goes without much forethought that you need (an almost “must”) install a safe pool fencing system. However, don’t ever think you have eliminated all of your chances of having someone drown in your home pool.
It Only Took Two Minutes… 120 Seconds
Take the story of Pat Kline as an example.
It was a comfortable day in October. She was changing the diaper on her son. She put the diaper in the laundry and him in a highchair at the dinner table.
In the meantime, her nearly three-year old daughter Hannah, had gone outside, grabbed a plastic lawn chair. She climbed over the locked pool fence and plunged into the icy waters.
That is all it took. Hannah quickly drowned.
The family has now lived for years with this torment. The mother blames herself and she always will! The shame and stigma that the family suffers will always be there.
Tragedies similar to Hannah’s continue to happen. We would like to see these end, but more-than-likely never will. More families will suffer.
Go Further Than Just the Pool Fence
If you have installed a pool fence, you are to be praised for at least installing a barrier. You have at least tried to keep people away from the water… but, it is still not 100% safe. You can still go a bit further by making sure that:
- Continually maintain the fence – check for corrosion, loose screws, and holes.
- Check your pool fence gate to insure it is automatically closing and locking.
- Check inside and outside the pool fence area to make sure there is nothing that can be pulled, moved, or rolled to the fence that would then offer children access over, under, or through the pool fence.
Children are Creative and Persistent
Here are a few things that parents have told us that they have found their children using to gain access to pool areas in the past:
- Chairs
- Tables
- Buckets
- BBQ’s
- Bikes
- Plant pots
- Bikes
- Lawn Mowers
- Laundry baskets
- Swings
- Trampolines
All of these items have given access to children to pool areas in the past. More than 1 child has died in the swimming from using these.
It’s Your Duty To Go Beyond Just Caring
If you are one of the homeowners that has bought a house with a swimming pool or if you have installed a home swimming pool, YOU should feel like you have extra responsibilities.
Remember – A propped open pool fence gate kills! STOP! NEVER-EVER PROP!
Always look in the pool first! If you are looking for anyone, especially a child, go to your swimming pool and look first! Most children drown in pools when they were not expected to be in the pool. And, in most cases, the pool was NOT the first placed checked.
Why? Because the homeowners mistakenly trusted the fence. DON’T EVER TRUST YOUR FENCE!!
Installing a Safe, Secure Pool Fence is Only the First Step in Trying to Stop a Drowning
If you own a home swimming pool, it’s critically important to install a safe and secure home pool fencing system. However, remember, it is only the first step in trying to stop a drowning.
Give Life Saver Of Houston a call if you are thinking about this first step. It’s owner, Wayne, can help you with any questions that you might have. You can reach him by dialing (832) 367-2377. Or you can email him!