05/22/2026
Parents, have you asked yourself this?
If you own a pool, even if you don't have kids, have you asked yourself this about the neighborhood kids or those who come and visit?
What barriers have you put in place to stop a child from getting to the water if you are distracted or aren't there?
Are there locks on all windows, gates, doors (and dog doors) leading to where the water is?
Are there alarms on those same exit/entry points? Do those alarms sound different to your house alarm, so that if they go off, you immediately know that someone is trying to access the water area?
Is there a mesh pool safety fence or a kid catcher net on/around your pool at all times when it is not in use? Perimeter and iron fencing don't count. Kids can scale and climb those. You need a proper mesh safety fence that completely blocks access to the pool.
Is your fence at least 4-5 feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate that has an automatic locking mechanism when it closes?
Do you have all patio furniture pulled away from the fence and secured so that it is unable to be dragged to it by a child who might use it to climb the fence or open the gate to the fence and gain access to the water?
Do you have a sign on your fence to remind gardeners and anyone else accessing the pool area to make sure the gate is closed and locked before they leave?
If you haven't asked yourself these things, NOW is the time. The heat is here and kids love water. Let's make sure they can't get to it without you.
