Our commitment to your safety
Steve Wallen Swim School’s first priority is safety. Therefore, we prioritized your safety and comfort when constructing our teaching pools in El Dorado Hills and Roseville. When teaching babies, children, and adults how to swim, we also teach them how to be safe in and around the water. Our experience has taught us that the water can be an amazing and rewarding place to play and stay healthy when safety is on our minds.
Backyard fun in the summer
Did you know that the State of California has well over one million swimming pools? Perhaps you, or someone in your neighborhood, is one in this million! Backyard pools are a fantastic way to stay cool in the heat. However, backyard pools have an enormous responsibility, and some of that responsibility falls into law.
Rules for the Pool
The StopDrowning Now organization has the research to back a set of carefully thought-out pool rules that every pool owner should memorize. Sure, items like fencing, locking gates, and a sturdy pool cover are apparent. Other things, such as performing a swim competency test, signage, and other simple and easily adapted behaviors, can mean more summer fun.
It’s the LAW
The 2022 California Residential Code includes the Swimming Pool Safety Act. In this document, the definition of pools includes spas, hot tubs, and nonportable wading pools. The code outlines seven drowning prevention measures:
- Pool Enclosure
- Removable fencing
- Approved pool safety cover
- Entry/Exit Alarm for Pool Gate
- Self-Closing and Self-Latching Gate for direct entry from home to pool
- Alarm for unauthorized pool entry
- Other means of protection that meets the code’s standards.
Perhaps regrettably, the Code only requires pool owners to adopt a minimum of two of these critically essential safety measures. Consider your own pool’s safety features and design; is entry into the water impossible without an adult present? Can someone easily slip into the pool without barriers, alarms, or other impediments? Check out the code for all the specifics; it can be overwhelming, so you may want to hire an expert to ensure your pool is safe and meets all local regulations, codes, and bylaws!
Have on hand at poolside
In addition to following the law regarding protecting your loved ones, your backyard pool should have several items at hand. These items will be needed should the unthinkable happen; a drowning or an injury. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, accidents happen, so it’s best to be prepared!
- Reaching and Throwing Assists
- First Aid Kit with Blanket
- Designated Emergency Telephone
- Pool Rules Signage
- Regular cleaning of pool and deck surfaces
Your Backyard Pool Party
When playing host, the more prepared you are for anything, the better you will be to enjoy your party. If your party includes swimming, here are some tips to ensure that everyone has a fantastic time and everyone goes home safe and sound:
The StopDrowning Now Organization suggests that all children and adults have basic water survival skills:
- Step or jump into water over their heads and return to the surface.
- Float or tread water for one minute
- Turn around in a full circle and find a safe exit
- Swim 25 yards to exit the water and
- Exit the water. If in a pool, be able to exit without using the ladder.
If your guests cannot perform these skills, provide a life jacket.
In addition to making your family and guests aware of the need for these basic swim skills, take the time to educate your guests about your pool area. Tell them where the deep end is and where the shallow water transitions to deep. Review your own pool rules, such as where (and if) it is safe to dive, no horseplay, no glassware, and no running. You may have a few more!
Before entering the water, create a “Supervision Schedule”. At least one competent adult must be vigilantly watching the pool area at all times. During their supervision shift, adults no longer participate in the fun. Instead, they are concentrating fully on what is happening in the pool. All adults should be ready to act quickly in an emergency and ready to take on tasks such as first aid and alerting emergency services if needed.
Consider this sobering statistic from the American Red Cross:
“Among those 1-14, drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death behind motor vehicle crashes.”
However, with diligence, preplanning, and constant supervision, your backyard pool can be your summer oasis and a safe place to enjoy the summer heat! At Steve Wallen Swim School, we teach swimming skills and much more. Join us at Steve Wallen Swim School to begin your aquatic adventure and learn to be a swimmer!
