It’s that time again. The weather is warming up in Palm Springs and people across the desert are hitting the pool to cool off from the heat. BBQ’s, pool parties and relaxing days outside are upon us.
Before you head outside, Teserra wants to remind you and your family the importance of pool safety and proper pool maintenance.
Drowning is a leading cause of injury or death for young children ages 1 to 4, and the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages. Pool safety has to be a priority for everyone, even those with children who know how to swim.
In 2014, Orange County homeowners installed 829 pools. In 2015, that number increased to just under 900 pools.
Recent estimates from pool companies report approximately 45,000 plus pools in the Coachella Valley. As the population in the Palm Springs area continues to grow, so does the number of swimming pools and chance for injury or drowning.
So, how can you do your part to practice pool safety?
1. Supervision: Children should never be in or around a pool alone, and without an adult. No matter how old or experienced children are as swimmers, make sure they are constantly supervised by an adult who knows how to swim. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
2. Swimming lessons: Formal swimming lessons reduces the risk of drowning by as much as 88% among young children aged 1 to 4 years. It’s also important to make them aware of the dangers of diving, jumping and running near a pool. And parents, don’t give up too soon. Ultimately, with regular lessons, the child will get more comfortable in the water and will learn how to swim.
3. CPR: Knowing what to do in an emergency can help to keep you, your family and friends safe. Empty all wading pools immediately after use. Store them out of children’s reach.
4. Pool Maintenance: The importance of keeping your pool and pool equipment maintained properly cannot be understated. It’s important to have a licensed professional maintain your pool. You wouldn’t use a car wash down the street to change your brakes, now would you? Maintaining a pool can be time consuming or seem costly, but if its not properly maintained, the repair costs can be quite expensive.
Your person who cleans your pool is probably not a trained and licensed pool professional. They are trained or have learned to clean pools but many times are not trained by the manufacturers on repairs and corrections. Many times they will try to sell you and install items they have not been sufficiently trained to do. Hire a trained and licensed pool professional to annually inspect your pool. They will check and see if any of the work that has been done during the past year is within code and installed correctly. They will check and see if system including electrical and suction are within the safety standards. Many professional pool companies will do inspections for a nominal charge.
We recommend that your pool is regularly maintained to not only avoid larger repair issues and keeping costs low, but to make sure the pool is a safe environment for your family and friends.
“High quality pool products are the first step in practicing pool safety. Our energy efficient pool supplies and automation solutions make it easy for you and safe for everyone.” – Jandy Pool Equipment
“The maintenance of a pool is serious business and is something that has to be paid attention to, to ensure good pool quality and a safe outdoor environment. We are trained to not only maintain proper equipment, but to catch any potential hazards.” – Paul Yates, President, Teserra Outdoors
Drowning is absolutely preventable with the proper care and implementation. Don’t just rely on pool safety equipment and accessories, use common sense and be aware and present. When combined together, you will be providing your family with the best available protection.