for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

NFT: Pool Safety

GGGGmen : 6/23/2020 10:59 am
Hey BBI

Moving into a new home soon that has a large in-ground pool. Interested in what alarms, fences, etc. pool owners use here to keep their little ones safe.

Thanks guys!
Not to Miller the thread  
ron mexico : 6/23/2020 11:15 am : link
But all you people who threw up temporary pools because of the pandemic should make sure you’re being vigilant.
Yes - very scary story  
GGGGmen : 6/23/2020 11:19 am : link
about what happened in East Brunswick yesterday.
How little?  
pjcas18 : 6/23/2020 11:24 am : link
first thing we did was get my kids swimming lessons at a very young age.

Second is we had self closing/locking screen doors/sliders that were high enough the kids couldn't reach the handles. Got them at Lowe's I think.

otherwise, nothing fancy, just parental supervision (which is obviously error prone, but we never had any incidents - thank god).

You need a fence/cover  
give66 : 6/23/2020 11:25 am : link
Between the doors of the back of your house and the pool. You don't want your kids walking out the back of your house into the pool. This is a neglected area. Most codes only require the whole backyard to be fenced. While this protects your neighbors kids it doesn't protect YOUR kids.
I urge you to have something installed before you move in.
Terrible tragedy in my neighborhood where this was overlooked and two boys died.
Plenty of safety fence models to choose from. When the kids are and older/swimming in deep water they are easy to remove or when having people over.
Or you could go expensive and get an electric cover put in.
when we bought our home with inground pool  
Dr. D : 6/23/2020 11:28 am : link
our youngest was about 4 1/2. Our #1 priority was to teach him to swim asap. He learned quickly and we've never had to use a fence/net, etc. Our pool is almost part of our living room, so we all know when someone's in it.

Very sad what happened to those folks in NJ. There's speculation it was electrocution.
1) Locking fence around pool area  
LBH15 : 6/23/2020 12:41 pm : link
and 2) always have an adult outside watching kids swim.

The essentials.

RE: Yes - very scary story  
montanagiant : 6/23/2020 12:52 pm : link
In comment 14923820 GGGGmen said:
Quote:
about what happened in East Brunswick yesterday.

Was it an electrical issue with the pool?
My comment was more aimed at the temporary pools people are putting  
ron mexico : 6/23/2020 1:01 pm : link
Up in their back yards and driveways. Clearly they are not installing fences for something that is coming down in a couple months. I’m worried they won’t be as precautious as people with permanent pools.
pool safety  
Csonka : 6/23/2020 1:45 pm : link
So I'm sure you're already fenced in to keep neighbors safe. Now for your kids, without knowing age, your job is to make them the best swimmers in town. Lessons and swim team. They need to be absolute fish.
Water Safety PSA - watch this video  
ImThatGuy : 6/23/2020 2:05 pm : link
and remember drowning is silent - i was a lifeguard all through HS and college but wish I saw this years earlier


here - ( New Window )
my youngest almost drowned  
oghwga : 6/23/2020 2:25 pm : link
when he was 5 in a pool full of kids with a bunch of hyper vigilant adults watching. (I say almost but it wasn't that close) but he kind of floundered and slowly slipped towards the deep end and under but an older kid next to him yanked him back and up.

Pools are awesome and terrifying. watch the video. Most drownings occur very calmly, no thrashing and fighting.
RE: my youngest almost drowned  
Matt in SGS : 6/23/2020 2:32 pm : link
In comment 14923947 oghwga said:
Quote:
when he was 5 in a pool full of kids with a bunch of hyper vigilant adults watching. (I say almost but it wasn't that close) but he kind of floundered and slowly slipped towards the deep end and under but an older kid next to him yanked him back and up.

Pools are awesome and terrifying. watch the video. Most drownings occur very calmly, no thrashing and fighting.


100% true. My oldest son is a rising senior in high school and he's a lifeguard. He's actually at a meeting right now getting ready for the town pool to open (at 50% capacity). And they go through this training all the time and drowning is not what they show in the movies with splashing around. They sink under and it happens quietly.
Dr. D hope someone is in your living room 24/7  
BCD : 6/23/2020 3:37 pm : link
all it takes is seconds for a love one or next door friends...trust me I know...
Swim lessons  
Chris684 : 6/23/2020 4:18 pm : link
The sooner your little ones can swim or at least survive by grabbing the edge and climbing out, the better off you'll be.

My 3 year old is in the middle of swim lessons right now. I also have a 1 year old.

I was traumatized a couple years ago by hearing about what happened to Bode Miller's daughter.

I'm terrified of water for my children.
RE: Yes - very scary story  
Gregorio : 6/24/2020 12:10 pm : link
In comment 14923820 GGGGmen said:
Quote:
about what happened in East Brunswick yesterday.


This was tragic. I'm trying to understand how the 2 adults drowned in an above-ground pool. From pics the pool appears to be 4 feet deep, but I can't say for sure. Even a bad swimmer should be able to stand in a 4 foot pool. Maybe the 2 adults were very short in height.

RE: Not to Miller the thread  
RC in MD : 6/24/2020 1:48 pm : link
In comment 14923819 ron mexico said:
Quote:
But all you people who threw up temporary pools because of the pandemic should make sure you’re being vigilant.


Not sure if you intended this pun, but that's pretty shitty if you did with capitalizing "Miller" when Bode Miller and his wife just recently shared again their story of their child drowning to remind parents of water safety.
I doubt he meant to do that  
Greg from LI : 6/24/2020 2:14 pm : link
Probably was an autocorrect thing
RE: I doubt he meant to do that  
RC in MD : 6/24/2020 2:25 pm : link
In comment 14924450 Greg from LI said:
Quote:
Probably was an autocorrect thing


Yeah...I wasn't sure either; hence, my "if" question. It's unfathomable what the Millers experienced, but they've used their grief to continue to educate others on the importance of water safety. You can't help but to feel for them.
no kidding  
Greg from LI : 6/24/2020 2:28 pm : link
I don't know how anyone copes with the death of a small child like that.
Getting back on topic of pool safety...  
RC in MD : 6/24/2020 2:34 pm : link
we got ourselves a 10'x6' inflatable pool that's about 2 feet deep. It's under our deck (we have a second story deck) and under the shade. We cover it up with a tarp and put a chlorine releasing floaty in it to prevent algae growth.

Our 9 and 5 year olds can go down on their own, but we make sure that one of us is sitting watching them if our 2 year old is in the pool.

We do have a community pool, but there are new restrictions that will make it a little harder for us to go to it like cap of 25 people in the pool at any given time and no baby pool. So we thought the inflatable pool will be a decent investment for the summer.
Getting back on topic of pool safety...  
RC in MD : 6/24/2020 2:35 pm : link
we got ourselves a 10'x6' inflatable pool that's about 2 feet deep. It's under our deck (we have a second story deck) and under the shade. We cover it up with a tarp and put a chlorine releasing floaty in it to prevent algae growth.

Our 9 and 5 year olds can go down on their own, but we make sure that one of us is sitting watching them if our 2 year old is in the pool.

We do have a community pool, but there are new restrictions that will make it a little harder for us to go to it like cap of 25 people in the pool at any given time and no baby pool. So we thought the inflatable pool will be a decent investment for the summer.
RE: RE: Not to Miller the thread  
ron mexico : 6/24/2020 2:42 pm : link
In comment 14924437 RC in MD said:
Quote:
In comment 14923819 ron mexico said:


Quote:


But all you people who threw up temporary pools because of the pandemic should make sure you’re being vigilant.



Not sure if you intended this pun, but that's pretty shitty if you did with capitalizing "Miller" when Bode Miller and his wife just recently shared again their story of their child drowning to remind parents of water safety.


Definitely did not intend that. Miller is an established term for changing the topic slightly and had not heard till right now what happened to Bode’s son.
Fence your pool if you have kids  
Torrag : 6/24/2020 2:45 pm : link
You never think the worst could happen to you. It can.

Bottom line  
pjcas18 : 6/24/2020 2:51 pm : link
for me is there was no technology solution that was going to put my mind at ease. So we fortified the house, so the kids could not get out on their own and taught them to swim at 1.5-2 years old. I've read that some baby/toddler swim classes don't "stick" but for our kids it did.

my two older kids are life guards or have been certified as life guards but aren't working as that now.

There is no substitute for personal attention and that service should NOT be taken lightly.

And the ocean is (in my opinion) infinitely more dangerous than pools especially as kids get older and braver and are in strong currents, rip tides and waves.

but drowning is still one of the leading causes of death for children, so if you want a technology solution we looked at some of these (or their predecessors since my youngest is 13 now - and when I looked these products just weren't that effective, maybe they are now)
Pool Alarms - ( New Window )
RE: RE: RE: Not to Miller the thread  
RC in MD : 6/24/2020 3:12 pm : link
In comment 14924473 ron mexico said:
Quote:
In comment 14924437 RC in MD said:


Quote:


In comment 14923819 ron mexico said:


Quote:


But all you people who threw up temporary pools because of the pandemic should make sure you’re being vigilant.



Not sure if you intended this pun, but that's pretty shitty if you did with capitalizing "Miller" when Bode Miller and his wife just recently shared again their story of their child drowning to remind parents of water safety.



Definitely did not intend that. Miller is an established term for changing the topic slightly and had not heard till right now what happened to Bode’s son.


Totally understand, and hopefully, my questioning didn't come off accusatory as much as just inquisitive.

And yes, "to miller a thread" is a common term used here, but it being capitalized was a bit weird, especially with the Millers sharing their story again recently. Perfect storm of coincident.
Not a problem here  
Big Al : 6/24/2020 3:14 pm : link
Condo pool closed for season. With all the state and city rules imposed, cost for pool season doubled and not in budget so the board decided to take a pass.
#1 - most important  
section125 : 6/24/2020 5:18 pm : link
teach them to swim. It does not have to be far - just enough to reach the edge of the pool to hold on. Plus they will not be afraid and panic.
We sent our first two to Silton Swim School in Brielle, NJ. one was 5 the other 3. In two weeks the older could easily swim 100 ft, the 3 year old 40 feet. They were taught what to do if they fell in(get to the edge and call for help.)
Our 3rd was sent to the YMCA as soon as allowed because we had moved. We have an inground pool right outside the house. So no screwing around.

#2 - put a 4 foot fence around the pool. Ours was specifically made for little ones. It uses a flexible mesh net attached to aluminum 3/4 in posts in 10 foot sections. The posts fit into holes drilled into the concrete around the pool. The sections use snap hooks to connect each section to the next. The mesh does not allow small ones to climb as it is somewhat unstable and the mesh is too small for feet - cannot use it to climb. The beauty was it was easy to take down when appropriate.
We still have the fence and still put it up if little ones come over.

#3 - They make splash alarms that float in the pool. If it senses a wave/disturbance(from falling or jumping in, an alarm sounds as warning - it only takes 30 seconds to drown a wee one. Florida loses several kids a year to drownings with a responsible person available but slightly distracted. Most cases involve a parent/guardian answering the phone, checking the stove - all less than two minutes activities. It is scary how fast it happens.

#4 - keep a hook on a pole and a life ring with a line attached on hand. The brush for doing the bottom the pool with a telescoping handle will work. Remember Reach, Throw, Row and Go.

#5 - Learn CPR!
This NJ story  
pjcas18 : 6/24/2020 9:35 pm : link
received confirmation the 3 people (a mother, grandfather, and daughter (8)) all drowned - and were not electrocuted.

It's weird to me that adults can drown in an above ground pool. Most are just 3 - 4 feet deep with no deep end, though this looks like a massive above ground pool.

They must have panicked.

tragic.


link - ( New Window )
RE: This NJ story  
Ned In Atlanta : 6/24/2020 10:50 pm : link
In comment 14924614 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
received confirmation the 3 people (a mother, grandfather, and daughter (8)) all drowned - and were not electrocuted.

It's weird to me that adults can drown in an above ground pool. Most are just 3 - 4 feet deep with no deep end, though this looks like a massive above ground pool.

They must have panicked.

It’s awful. I’m not being callous I legitimately can’t wrap my head around the fact that TWO adults could both drown in a pool that’s deepest end is more shallow than the height of most adults
tragic.

link - ( New Window )
add me to the "learn to swim" list  
regulator : 6/24/2020 11:04 pm : link
get them lessons, put them on a summer swim team, have a high school kid come to the house and teach them how to swim, whatever it is.

And, I say this as a person who grew up in a house with a pool and diving board (which I loved) that would be illegal today... if you have one, RIP IT OUT. I'd even ask for the seller to do it. When I think back to some of the stuff me and my friends used to do on it as a kid, it's amazing any of us can still walk. They serve no purpose but to invite trouble and virtually no residential inground pools actually have a large enough diving well to mitigate the risk of an adult striking the slope on an improper dive.

As for fences, alarms, etc., that's just for your peace of mind and and liability. Teach your kids to swim well, eliminate hazards (diving board) and keep an eye on them... and enjoy!
RE: RE: This NJ story  
section125 : 6/25/2020 7:13 am : link
In comment 14924629 Ned In Atlanta said:
Quote:
In comment 14924614 pjcas18 said:


Quote:


received confirmation the 3 people (a mother, grandfather, and daughter (8)) all drowned - and were not electrocuted.

It's weird to me that adults can drown in an above ground pool. Most are just 3 - 4 feet deep with no deep end, though this looks like a massive above ground pool.

They must have panicked.

It’s awful. I’m not being callous I legitimately can’t wrap my head around the fact that TWO adults could both drown in a pool that’s deepest end is more shallow than the height of most adults
tragic.

link - ( New Window )



Article says it is 6 to 7 feet at the deep end. That pool is partially in ground. It only shows about 3 feet above ground.
This goes back to my points on having a pole to reach and/or a lifering with a long line attached that you can throw.
This is just so sad...
Back to the Corner