Best practices for child swimming pool safety in Phoenix

One of the most important aspects of owning a pool in the Phoenix area is maintaining pool safety for the children in your household. A single moment of turning your back or getting distracted can turn into an emergency situation that you'd much rather avoid altogether.

Here are some valuable practices to engage in when demonstrating safe use of the swimming area for your kids.

1. Always be 'on duty'
Similar to lifeguards at a beach or recreational swimming area, you should always be on duty and aware of where the children are in the pool, according to Healthy Children. An adult should be actively watching kids regardless of the situation because an emergency can happen at any moment. For infants and toddlers, a parent should be in the water with them and within arm's reach in case they need to be lifted out of the pool.

Additionally, you should avoid any distractions such as talking on the phone or doing chores around the swimming area – save those for when you have the time to do it alone. Keep your attention focused on the pool.

2. Door alarms
Good Housekeeping suggested that adding a door alarm to your gate could be beneficial in scenarios where no one is supposed to be swimming. If you hear the alarm go off in your house, you'll know that someone has entered the swimming area without your supervision. Children love to wander around and explore on their own, so an alarm can provide you with adequate safety and security measures.

The alarm can be a great addition to your existing pool barrier, which should be in place per the city's regulations on pool safety. You can talk your local Phoenix pool service about installing one on your fence or barrier.

​3. VGB drain covers
Pool Safely stated that one of the most important factors for keeping children safe in pools is to install an anti-entrapment or safety drain cover. Accidents can occur when a swimmer's hair, limbs or clothing become ensnared in a broken or flat drain. The best way to avoid this is by installing covers that are VGB-compliant.

You should also inspect your drain regularly to make sure it's up to safety standards, both of the federal government and of your own accord. Make sure nothing is broken before allowing children to swim in your pool.