Swimming pool safety

Having an outdoor or indoor swimming pool as part of your home can be great fun and it can offer the opportunity to get exercise throughout the year. However, care needs to be taken, both in terms of pool maintenance and general safety when it comes to swimming pool use. Below are some common sense guidelines.

Keeping the pool safe

• Ensure that the water is regularly checked and that the levels of all cleaning chemicals are not exceeded. If they are, the pool needs to be quarantined until they return to an acceptable level.


• Keep the pool clear of debris. Items of vegetation, stones or dirt can cut, scratch, or even block the throat if someone swallows them.


• Ensure that the heater and the thermostat for the heater are regularly checked and maintained and that the temperature setting from the thermostat is not accidentally adjusted.


• Remove toys and other floating or submerged items from the pool after each session (or at the end of the day).


• If the area around the pool (i.e. any tiling or hard landscaping) is excessively slippery, for example due to rain, make sure that those suing the pool are aware of this fact.


• Cover the pool with a solar cover when it is not in use and ensure that it is impossible for anyone to enter the pool when the cover is in place.

Keeping the way that the pool is used safe

• Make sure that there is always adequate illumination when the pool is used.


• Ensure that there is always an adult present when young children use the swimming pool (or anyone who cannot swim).


• Do not have people diving or jumping into the pool when young children or inexperience swimmers are in close proximity.


• Make sure that anyone using the pool is aware of its depth at both ends and the suitability or otherwise for diving.


• Keep any glass or porcelain objects (e.g. cups and beakers) away from the poolside area.


• Do not mix the consumption of large quantities of alcohol with swimming or using the swimming pool. This is a recipe for accidents and injuries.


• Do not run around or play games in the area immediately adjacent to the pool. This increases the risk of someone falling into the pool and injuring themselves, or more likely, someone else who is already in the pool.

One way to keep a pool safe is to have a set of ground rules and make everyone who uses the pool aware of them. If they break a rule they get time out.