Block: Blocking access to the pool by unsupervised children is one of three important methods you should use to limit a child's exposure to open water.  There are several different ways you can do this which are recommended by water safety experts everywhere. 

Blocking access to the pool requires a physical barrier such as a fence, self closing/latching door and/or gate or a motorized pool cover.  Fences should be made of non-climbable material, such as iron, heavy-duty plastic, or non-climbable mesh, with a minimum height of 54" and self-closing, self latching gate.  A four-sided pool fence provides superior protection.  Many of our customers are reluctant to install a pool fence due to a perception that pool fences are unattractive eyesores, but at First Impression we can design a pool fence that meets your aesthetic sensibilities while still meeting all the necessary safety requirements and your city code.  Our customers are thrilled with the attractive iron artwork designs installed around their pools and have often commented that they wished they had done it sooner once they see the finished results.  Protecting your family should not come at the cost of beauty.

Learn: Swimming lessons should be a priority for any child over the age of 3, but all children can benefit from lessons, whatever their age.  States all over the country are adopting "Water Smart Babies" programs which help to educate families on water safety, CPR and drowning prevention.  For any person who is around children, learning CPR is also a vital piece of the puzzle because keeping oxygen flowing to the brain in those initial few minutes after a water incident occurs can make all the difference.  CPR should be administered by a person who has been properly trained and if nobody who has been trained is available, follow instructions given by the emergency operator when you call 911.

What else can I do?

There are a few other things you can do to help prevent drownings around your pool, and not become a statistic.   In one county alone in Arizona, there have already been 40 water safety incidents resulting in 7 drownings deaths this year, 4 of them children.  That's too many and we aren't even in pool season yet.   

• Do not allow children to play around in or around the pool area.
• Have life saving devices mounted near the pool.
• Keep tables, chairs, toys and other things children can use to get into the pool area away from the fence.
• Install pool alarms and door chimes as a further layer of protection but do not rely on these methods by themselves because they can and do fail. 

If you find a child in any source of water...  

• Yell for help and pull the child out of the water.
• Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number immediately!
• Begin CPR if you are trained.
• If you are not trained to administer CPR, follow the instructions from the 9-1-1 operator until help arrives.