I want to share some rather startling statistics regarding children and pool safety. According to the CDC, drowning is the second leading cause of death for children 1-14 years old. Additionally, the Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 75 percent of the children involved in swimming pool submersion or drowning accidents were between 1 and 3 years old. Owning a pool is a great privilege, but also a huge responsibility. In addition to securing your pool with a fence and installing pool alarms, pool safety covers are the perfect way to keep children and animals from accidental drowning. In order for a cover to be considered a “safety” cover, it must be able to hold a minimum of 485 pounds per five square feet. Since this is much more than the weight of even an average adult, you can be assured that any children or animals that might accidently enter your pool area will be safely supported. Safety covers come in two forms: solid and mesh. Both types of safety covers are anchored to a deck with straps that pull the cover taut over the pool. The straps are usually attached to springs and are anchored to recessed brackets in a deck surface. This gives the cover the necessary tension and strength to support huge amounts of weight. It is important to note that only covers that are designated “safety” covers are designed for this purpose. Solar covers, winter covers, and leaf nets will not aid in drowning prevention. Safety covers are an investment in your family’s protection.
