As a pool owner, you know that you have a responsibility to keep your pool safely fenced in and protected. In the eyes of the law, a pool is considered an “attractive nuisance.” While it can provide a lot of fun for your family and others in the neighborhood, it also poses a serious danger – particularly to young children, who want to use it but don’t realize the inherent danger of using it.
Fortunately, there are ways you can protect others in your neighborhood while shielding yourself from liability regarding your pool. One of these is by purchasing a safety cover when your pool is not in use.
Advantages of a Pool Cover
When it comes time to close your pool for the season, a pool cover works double time to protect the water inside as well as preventing small children and pets from falling through and getting trapped beneath a non-safety cover.
Pool safety covers, when properly installed, can hold a lot of weight and withstand a lot of abuse. For example, a safety cover will shield your pool from falling tree limbs and other debris that might fall in a winter storm. True safety covers pull taut so there’s no danger of anyone or anything falling in – save for a few insects.
Types of Pool Safety Covers
There are a few types of pool safety covers for your unique needs and budget. The mesh options tend to be the most lightweight, but also the most inexpensive. They’re easy to install, can support thousands of pounds when pulled taut, and have a “set it and forget it” philosophy.
Solid safety covers are a little higher maintenance, but they also offer superior protection. This impermeable barrier protects your pool from sun, debris, rain, and protects young children and animals. However, since they’re solid, they don’t let any excess water go into your pool. This means that you must pump the extra water off the top regularly. These covers usually come with a pool cover pump that you’ll use to siphon off water that can accumulate in the center. Be sure to regularly tend to stand water, as it can pose a drowning hazard – which is exactly what you’re trying to avoid.
Reasons to Get a Pool Safety Cover
A pool safety cover is much better than a regular cover as it eliminates the risk of a child or animal becoming trapped between the cover and the pool. It also goes a long way toward protecting young children from drowning. Statistically speaking, the majority of drowning accidents in Chula Vista involving death or severe injury involved kids under the age of 5. In most cases, the kids were swimming unsupervised or fell into a pool without a cover, or a pool with a cover with standing water on top. Toddlers aged 2 and 3 are the most likely to wander into these areas and attempt to get in, as they are unaware of the dangers. A well-maintained pool cover can go a long way toward preventing tragedies such as these.