Pool Safety Products Protect, Prevent, and Rehabilitate

When it comes to keeping your pool area safe, nothing beats some old-fashioned parental supervision. Common sense basics always apply: don't run on wet concrete, don't drink-and-dive, don't swim in bad weather, and as your parents always told you, wait thirty minutes after you eat. But even if these rules are followed, accidents can still occur. You can't always be around. And when you are supervising, you can't see everything all the time. So what happens when the lifeguard isn't on duty? That's why it's important to invest in some pool safety products to help keep your family safe while you're away.

Protective Barricades
When it comes to keeping hazards at bay, security barriers are the most valuable, and most effective, pool safety product available. Cheap and easy to install, these non-evasive inventions secure, protect, and prevent access into unsafe areas.
Drain Covers: Drains create suction and pull in drifting objects. A simple plastic guard inhibits entrapment so you won't have to worry about snaring stray feet, fingers, or hair.
Pool Cover: Installing mesh netting, automatic covers, or plastic tarps help prevent accidental entry from wandering infants, kids, pets, toys, leaves, and other debris.
Security Fences: Spring-activated, self-latching perimeter gates impede intruders from entry. Also, transparent paneling around the area itself creates a safety bubble for kids. But make sure the fences are climb-resistant and installed with a motion-sensor alarm.

Emergency Alarms
An important pool safety product is an electronic alarm system. Some can be attached to the side gutters in order to monitor water levels: when an object (pet, toy, or person) enters the pool, the water is immediately displaced and an alarm is sounded. Motion-sensors can also be installed around the pool in order to detect intrusion. But alarm sensors aren't just security features; they're also great at recognizing emergencies. Since pumps create a vacuum, it's possible for small objects (including body parts) to get sucked in the drain. But some specialized pool safety equipment can perceive when suction increases and immediately shuts off the machinery. Or you can install an overall emergency shut down switch that can manually turn off the entire system when needed.

Handicap Accessible Devices
Water is a great source of therapy. It's floating properties, calming qualities, and relaxing maneuverability restores agility, develops strength, and improves circulation. Therefore, a lot of pool safety equipment has been specially designed to accommodate injured, disabled, or elderly persons so that everyone can enjoy the curative powers of water.
Crane Lift: Often the main problem involves safe entry and egress. Therefore, the most common solution is a lift: a canvas harness is slung from a metal pole that's been planted into the concrete, allowing one to gradually be immersed into the water without harm.
Access Chair: Usually made from non-rusting plastic piping, these devices act as aquatic wheelchairs that can slowly ease you into the water (though you have to have a pool with a sloped entry). There are even models available with all-terrain tires for the beach.
Easy Ladder: These sturdy, portable ladders act as an easy-to-use staircase that can be attached anywhere along the edge for effortless entry or exiting.

Other Pool Safety Products
Though not extravagant or state-of-the art, you can't have a complete assortment of pool safety equipment without the old standards. So make sure you have buoy lines and floats, life preservers and vests, and reaching poles and hooks nearby. Plus, it's smart to have appropriate signs posted around the premises stating the house rules and denoting special information, such as NO DIVING and NO RUNNING. Installing occasional depth markers around the perimeter is also a good idea in order to keep people properly informed.