Child safety around the swimming pool

According to the Royal Life Saving Society, 50 per cent of child drowning incidents occur in the home swimming pool, so it’s essential that you have a plan in place that prevents serious injury – or in extreme cases, death.

1. Swimming pool aids

Children should always be encouraged to enjoy the water, so provide plenty of floating swimming pool aids, from fun tubes and Lilos to inflatable arm supports. With these around, kids can safely become familiar with the water.

2. Designated pool supervisor

If you can't supervise the children's water activities, or are busy making lunches and entertaining, allocate one adult to watch over the pool at all times. The designated supervisor (similar to the designated driver) should remain sober and alert, and ready to help out if anything goes wrong.

3. Don’t forget the shallow end

If you're designing a pool with family in mind, you will want to include a shallow end as well as a deep one. To make it easy on kids, you could also have depth measurements on the side, or mark the pool floor with a line to differentiate the shallow end from the deep.

4. Pool steps for kids

Another great way to help children ease into the swimming pool is by building steps that progress into the water. Three or four steps leading into the shallow end of the pool can provide different levels for the young to gradually become comfortable entering the water. They can also provide a safe exit.

5. Swimming pool fences

By law, you must have a swimming pool fence, so once you've designed your perfect pool. But if you’re concerned with the visual appeal, don't despair, there are plenty of attractive and design-conscious styles, including frameless glass.

6. Clear the swimming pool surrounds

Never underestimate the determination of a child to get to the pool. Once your safety fence is in place, you should also keep an eye out for garden chairs, tables or step ladders, which craftier kids could use to help them jump over.

To ensure your pool is child friendly, contact a pool equipment specialist and enjoy the warmer months with peace of mind: