The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) makes some sensible recommendations on keeping dogs safe around residential pools.  First, take a look at your yard and pool area with your pup’s safety in mind.  Clearly, having a fence around the pool area is a great way to keep your dog out of the pool when unsupervised, especially if you use a lightweight cover. If a dog falls into a covered pool he can become disoriented and remain trapped under the cover, resulting in drowning.  APDT recommends keeping a flotation device or life preserver on a long line nearby.  A panicked dog will try to climb onto his rescuer, so it is safer to try to pull him to safety with the flotation device, instead of jumping in yourself.

Cats naturally avoid getting wet, so you probably don’t have to worry about your cat leaping into the pool after your retriever.  However, a floating pool alarm will sound if the surface is disturbed and would alert you to the fact that your pet has fallen into the pool.  Secure fencing with a locking gate is a good first step to keeping your pet out of the pool area.  As with children, supervision is key with pets and pools.  In busy households where people are coming and going, a small investment in automatic door closers could prevent your pet from spending unsupervised time outdoors.

It makes sense to have a well-trained dog when the family is spending time around the pool.  Teach your dog to “stay” and to “wait” at the edge of the pool before leaping in.  A strong recall is equally important in the pool area when you want your dog to come to you.  Show your dog where the steps are, or use a non-slip ramp if your pool has no steps.

If your dog is a breed that’s not really built for swimming (think stocky legs, bully breeds) or is overweight or senior, you may want to consider outfitting him with a lifejacket for his summer dips.  Like humans, dogs don’t always instinctively have great swimming form and may require help learning to use their back legs to make paddling less exhausting.  Supervise your pet when he’s swimming – if you see your pup getting tired, call him out and end the swimming session for the day.

Don’t allow your pet to drink chlorinated pool water – keep a water dish nearby.  Remember to rinse your dog after swimming to remove chlorine and other chemicals.  Collars left on a wet dog can cause hot-spots, and keep your eye out for possible ear infections or skin infections caused by moisture.  And, always store your pool chemicals in a safe place where curious pets can’t get to it.

This summer do all you can to prevent unwanted pool accidents for pets and people.

More From AlexT

• Sliding Door Safety Lock and Closer – Pool Safety Requirements for Doors
• Preparing for National Water Safety Month
• Upgrade Your Pool Safety Barriers During Water Safety Month!

AlexT Recommends

• RAD Cycle Products Ceiling Mount Bike Hoist  (Amazon | Home & Garden)
• Sony ICF-C7IP Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone with Hidden Sliding Dock Tray  (Amazon | Home & Garden)

Ask AlexT To Recommend Your Posts

The answer to this challenge is automatic self-closing and latching devices and audible alarms on all doors that open to the pool area.   The CPSC recommends an alarm that sounds for 30 seconds or more within 7 seconds after the door is opened.  They also recommend that the alarms be loud, with a sound that is distinct from other sounds in the home, like the telephone, doorbell, etc.

Our Ultra-Glide self-closing device ensures that doors close automatically and no doors remain open for little ones to slip out unnoticed.  These unobtrusive devices are installed out of reach of children and can also be fitted with an optional latch.  These small and easily installed devices can provide parents with peace of mind and a necessary layer of pool safety for their families.

More From AlexT

• Pool Safety Requirements for Doors, Sliding Door Safety Lock
• Automatic Door Closers Add Safety to Your Pool
• Sliding Door Safety Lock and Closer – Pool Safety Requirements for Doors

AlexT Recommends

• Sony ICF-C7IP Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone with Hidden Sliding Dock Tray  (Amazon | Home & Garden)
• TravelRest – The Travel Pillow Reinvented – Blue  (Amazon | Home & Garden)

Ask AlexT To Recommend Your Posts

Any pool barrier must include a gate for entry and exit, and guidelines have been established for pool area and property gates as well.  Pedestrian gates should include a self-closing and self-latching device, as well as a locking device.  The gate should open out, away from the pool area, so that even if it is not completely latched a child pushing on it will close the gate and maybe even engage the latch, preventing entry into the pool area.  The release mechanism for the gate should be on the pool side of the gate, and be placed at the recommended height that will keep the latch out of reach of young children.  Remember that children might reach over the gate, or through any openings in the fence or between the gate and barrier.  Keep any openings within 18 inches of the latch to less than ½ inch to keep little hands from sneaking through.  Any gates on the property should also have self-latching devices.

Adhering to these few simple pool barrier guidelines, providing constant supervision for children in and outside of the home, and establishing clear rules in for pool use in the household can help reduce residential pool accidents.

More From AlexT

• SAFETY NEVER LOOKED THIS GOOD! Fencing and Gates for Pool Barrier Safety by DCS Pool Barriers
• The Importance of Pool Barrier Layers
• Protecting Doors that Open Directly to the Pool Area

AlexT Recommends

• RAD Cycle Products Ceiling Mount Bike Hoist  (Amazon | Home & Garden)
• Bionaire BW2300 Twin Window Fan with Remote Control  (Amazon | Home & Garden)

Ask AlexT To Recommend Your Posts

One of the interesting findings was that most of the swimming pool accident victims were actually being supervised by at least one parent when the accident occurred, and victims were last seen in the house or yard, or on the porch or patio before the accident.  Sixty-nine percent of the victims were not expected to be in the pool when they were discovered drowned or submerged.  These accidents occurred quickly – with 77% of the victims missing for only five minutes or less before being found in the pool.

After reviewing extensive data on drownings and child behavior, and pool barriers, the conclusion was reached that the most effective way to reduce child drownings in residential pools was to put barriers in place to prevent children from accessing the pools.

More From AlexT

• SAFETY NEVER LOOKED THIS GOOD! Fencing and Gates for Pool Barrier Safety by DCS Pool Barriers
• The Importance of Pool Fencing and Pool Barriers
• The Facts on Pool Drowning and Why Pool Fences and Barriers Are an Absolute Necessity

AlexT Recommends

• Sony ICF-C7IP Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone with Hidden Sliding Dock Tray  (Amazon | Home & Garden)
• Bionaire BW2300 Twin Window Fan with Remote Control  (Amazon | Home & Garden)

Ask AlexT To Recommend Your Posts

APSP and the International Swimming Hall of Fame offer the following pool safety tips for homeowners, starting with making supervision a top priority.  Children should never be left unsupervised in or near the pool, and should be watched carefully by adults at all times.  A child can drown in the time it takes to answer the phone or run to get the sunscreen.

DCS Pool Barriers offers a full selection of products for pool safety.  Doors that open to the pool area can be equipped with DCS’s patented Ultra Glide sliding glass door closer, which ensures that a sliding door will never be left open, allowing children unsupervised access to the pool.  Sliding doors can also be fitted with safety latches that can be easily installed above child-level so kids cannot open the doors without adult assistance.

Permanent, galvanized steel pool fencing is a popular choice for pool safety in Arizona.  High quality pool fencing can be customized so that it is not only durable and meets local pool barrier code, but will blend with the style of the home and property.  This type of pool safety barrier is built to last, and can enhance property values.  Gates on your pool fencing should close and latch automatically, and should never be left propped open.  Patio furniture or other large objects should be far enough away from the fencing so that children cannot climb over the fence and gain access to the pool area.

Removable mesh fencing is an option for those homeowners looking for a temporary pool barrier, although it may not meet local pool barrier code.  Mesh fencing’s transparent look allows a clear view of the pool area at all times.  When not needed, the fencing can be rolled up and stored out of sight.

Within pool fencing, DCS also recommends use of a pool safety net.  These nets are held securely in place over the surface of the pool with pulleys and clips, and are easily removed when it’s time to swim. This is a secure barrier in preventing infants and toddlers from getting into the water when used properly.  Obviously, to be effective it does require that the homeowner always replace the net after swimming.

This year, follow these pool safety tips to make this your safest summer ever.  For more information on pool safety products and fencing, visit www.dcspoolbarriers.com.

DCS Pool Barriers is a manufacturer and installer of a complete range of swimming pool barrier products, provides homeowners and commercial properties with pool fencing, gates and door safety mechanisms to help safeguard pools year-round.

More From AlexT

• Preparing for National Water Safety Month
• Pool Safety Requirements for Doors, Sliding Door Safety Lock
• Sliding Door Safety Lock and Closer – Pool Safety Requirements for Doors

AlexT Recommends

• Sony ICF-C7IP Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone with Hidden Sliding Dock Tray  (Amazon | Home & Garden)
• Kelsyus Water Hammock  (Amazon | Home & Garden)

Ask AlexT To Recommend Your Posts

The powder-coated steel frame and kick plate, along with the security lock, give this gate some muscle along with its good looks.  Our gates are built to swing smoothly and latch securely for years to come.

More From AlexT

• Protect your Property and Pool with a Full-sized Locking Gate
• Automatic Door Closers Add Safety to Your Pool
• Installing a Pool Safety Net and “Winterizing” Your Pool

AlexT Recommends

• Sony ICF-C7IP Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone with Hidden Sliding Dock Tray  (Amazon | Home & Garden)
• TravelRest – The Travel Pillow Reinvented – Blue  (Amazon | Home & Garden)

Ask AlexT To Recommend Your Posts

Pool barrier code varies from city to city in the Phoenix metro area, so homeowners should familiarize themselves with their local ordinances.  There are a number of ways homeowners can protect their families and keep their pool areas safe.  The number one tool in drowning prevention is supervision.  A child can drown in the time it takes to answer an unexpected phone call or ring of the doorbell.  Keeping children with you inside the home is a great start, and fitting your doors with alarms and self-closing, self-latching devices offers further protection.  You can prevent children from opening doors by themselves, and be warned with an alarm when a door is opened.

Once outside the home, galvanized steel pool fencing is an excellent option for keeping your pool area secure.  If you don’t have children in your home, but perhaps have visiting family or grandchildren, removable mesh fencing is an option.  This fencing can be removed, rolled up and put away when children are not in the home.  Inside the pool area, another option for pool safety is a pool safety net.  These high-quality nets stretch across the surface of the pool, so small that children cannot reach the water.  The downside to pool nets is that the homeowner must be vigilant about replacing the net after swimming, so that the pool is never left uncovered.  The temporary options of removable fencing and pool nets do not meet pool barrier code in the Phoenix metro area, but are excellent options when used in conjunction with other pool safety products.

Creating a safe environment for family fun doesn’t have to be difficult.  Armed with knowledge of the variety of pool barrier safety products available, homeowners can enhance their properties and prevent needless tragedies.

More From AlexT

• One-Stop for Pool Barriers and Fencing Needs with DCS Pool Barriers
• Multiple Layers of Pool Barriers Means Multiple Layers of Protection
• The Importance of Pool Barrier Layers

AlexT Recommends

• Sony ICF-C7IP Clock Radio for iPod and iPhone with Hidden Sliding Dock Tray  (Amazon | Home & Garden)
• Tidy Cats Breeze Litter Pad Refill, 4-Count Cat Pads (Pack of 10): Amazon.com: Grocery & Gourmet Food  (Amazon | Home & Garden)

Ask AlexT To Recommend Your Posts