Backyard pools are a great place to spend time especially when summer temperatures soar. But we all know there are inherent dangers associated with pools whatever their size. Pool safety is vitally important.
As a reminder, here are some safety tips from Health Canada:
• ALWAYS have a supervising adult watching children in and around the pool.
• Check with your town or city to find out the rules for putting up a fence around your pool.
• Build a fence and a gate that will keep children away from your pool.
• Keep the gate closed and locked at all times.
• Children under the age of 3 and children who cannot swim must wear a life jacket or PFD (personal floatation device).
• Send children to swimming and water safety lessons.
• Make sure lifesaving equipment and a first aid kit are handy.
• Take a course on pool safety, first aid and lifesaving skills.
• Have emergency phone numbers listed at the telephone closest to the pool.
• Make sure toys, garden furniture and tools are not near the pool fence. Children can climb up on these things to get into the pool.
• Don’t swim alone or allow others to swim alone.
• Check the pool area regularly for glass bottles, toys or other potential accident hazards.
• Don’t allow anyone who has been drinking alcohol to use the pool.
• Stay out of the pool during rain or lightning storms.
• Never dive into an above-ground pool and check the water depth before plunging into an in-ground pool. Keep clear of the area near a diving board.
To learn more about water safety and learn-to-swim programs, please call your local Canadian Red Cross Society, or the local Branch Office of the Lifesaving Society.
The chemicals used to kill bacteria and other microbes in swimming pools release chlorine, a toxic gas. Even breathing in small amounts of chlorine over a short time can irritate the respiratory system, especially if it hasn’t been diluted in water. Draining pools and discharging backwash can threaten nearby waterways if it isn’t done safely.
Storing swimming pool chemicals
Pool chemicals can be very dangerous and it’s important to always be respectful and careful around these chemicals.
Handling swimming pool chemicals
• Keep pool and spa chemicals in cool, dry and locked areas.
• Don’t allow these chemicals to come into contact with petroleum products such as grease, oil, petrol or liquid detergents.
• Buy chemicals in quantities that you can use within the use by dates on the containers.
• Read instructions carefully and follow them. (If you don’t understand something, don’t be shy - ask the retailer or a pool chemical specialist.)
• Use clean, dry, non-combustible measuring scoops made from porcelain, recommended plastics or metal, and use separate scoops for each chemical.
Discharging water from swimming pools
We must always bear the environmental consequences in mind when emptying swimming pools or discharging filter backwash. Here are some tips for emptying your pool:
• Discharge water from your pool into the nearest water course or storm sewer.
• If the discharge is directed over the ground, the rate should be slow enough that it does not cause soil erosion.
• Make sure discharges don’t contain harmful chemicals. Avoid adding chlorine to the pool for seven days before emptying the pool. Test the water using a pool test kit.
• Filter out suspended solids before discharging water to nearby waterways.
Occasionally, you’ll have to discharge filter backwash. Since the volumes are usually low, this can be done on-property. Soil will act as a filter and the water will replenish the groundwater supply.
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