Fence Professionals Are Important Key in Pool Safety

Summer is right around the corner. Warm weather and summer fun go hand-in-hand with swimming and lounging by the pool. This time of year, homeowners all over the country are making plans to open their backyard pools to enjoy quality time with their family in the months ahead. While a backyard oasis can be fun for the whole family, it also carries risks that must be addressed.

“Drowning is the single leading cause of death for children ages one to four and remains a leading cause of unintentional injury death for older children. It is estimated that for every fatal drowning, another four to five people are seen in the emergency department for non-fatal submersion injuries,” explains Adam Katchmarchi, Ph.D., executive director with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA). “Drowning is a silent epidemic, and most people don’t realize it.”

The NDPA recommends the use of multiple layers of protection to prevent drowning. This concept involves using multiple prevention strategies together to reduce the risk of an accident. Layers of protection include the use of barriers such as four-sided isolation fencing, supervision that is constant and capable, gaining water competency by learning to swim, the use of tested and approved life jackets when appropriate, and being prepared if a drowning occurs. “No single layer is enough to prevent drowning, but the use of multiple layers working together can reduce the risk,” Katchmarchi explains.

A startling fact is 70% of toddler drownings happen during non-swim times. These are times when a child isn’t expected to be near the water. “Many parents don’t realize how quickly drowning can happen. Children can drown in as little as 30 seconds,” he says.

Drowning is often a silent event. Parents expect to hear a call for help if their child is in danger, and that doesn’t usually occur with drowning. “Hollywood hasn’t done us any favors, as parents expect that drowning will resemble what is often portrayed in the movies and on TV, which is often not the case. Because of this,” he says, “parents need to think about what layers of protection they need to have in place during both swim times and non-swim times.”

Physical barriers are a critical layer for any residential pool, especially for any home with children. Four-sided isolation fencing that creates a barrier around all four sides of the pool is highly recommended. A perimeter fence that surrounds the entire yard is great for keeping neighbors out, but still leaves the pool exposed to any children who make their way to the backyard from inside the home. Fencing around pools should be at least 4ft. in height (or more) and include a self-closing, self-latching gate.

The NDPA is a proud partner of the American Fence Association and The Fence Group. Through this partnership, the NDPA hopes to better educate fencing contractors and experts on the important role they play in drowning prevention and water safety.

“Fencing is a critical layer of protection for any pool and every fence professional can champion water safety with the clients they serve,” says Katchmarchi. “Fence professionals save lives through their work and educating homeowners on the importance of water safety can ensure no other family faces the tragic devastation that drowning can cause.”

Visit www.ndpa.org for more water safety information and to learn how to get involved.

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