Summer Pool Safety Tips
Summer in the Lowcountry is synonymous with pool days and we are ready for the season! As the temperatures rise, there is nothing quite like stepping into a crystal-clear pool right in your own backyard to beat the heat. But before the kids cannonball into the deep end, it’s the perfect time to review your backyard safety checklist.
At Hardwick Pools, we believe a beautiful pool should also be a safe pool. Ensuring your family’s summer remains full of joy and free of accidents requires a mix of active supervision, proper equipment management, and secure chemical handling. Here is our ultimate guide to keeping your loved ones safe while making the most of your pool season.
The Golden Rule: Active Supervision
It sounds obvious, but active supervision is the single most effective way to prevent backyard pool accidents. When hosting a pool party or a casual family barbecue, it’s easy to get distracted by conversations or the grill. Designate an adult as the official “water watcher” for a 15-to-20-minute shift. This person’s sole responsibility is to keep their eyes on the pool—no phones, no book reading, and no distractions. Surprisingly drowning is almost always silent. It doesn't look like the splashing and shouting we see on television. Keeping constant visual contact is vital. This summer, make sure you have proper supervision when hosting any sized pool party or backyard swim.
Lock down pool chemicals
A clean pool requires powerful chemicals, but those same chemicals can pose a serious risk to curious children and family pets if they aren't managed correctly. Proper storage is a vital pillar of pool safety. Follow these chemical tips:
Never Store Chemicals on the Ground: Keep chlorine tablets, shock treatments, and pH balancers stored on high shelves or in locked cabinets.
Keep it Cool and Dry: Pool chemicals are highly reactive to moisture and extreme heat. Store them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space out of direct sunlight, such as a dedicated pool shed or a locked utility closet.
Keep Original Packaging: Never transfer chemicals into unmarked containers like old Tupperware or buckets. Keep them in their original, tightly sealed packaging so instructions and emergency warnings are always clearly visible.
Secure Your Equipment and Pool Perimeter
Your backyard pool environment extends beyond the water itself. The equipment that keeps your pool running needs to be treated with care.
Clear the Deck: When pool time is over, remove all toys, floats, and pool noodles from the water and the surrounding deck. Leaving brightly colored floats in the pool can tempt a curious toddler to reach for them and accidentally fall in.
Secure the Pump and Filter Area: Kids love to climb. Ensure your pool pump, filter, and heater are enclosed or blocked off so children cannot use the equipment as a makeshift ladder to climb over backyard fences or safety barriers.
Invest in Layers of Protection: Hardwick Pools highly recommends utilizing multiple layers of safety. This includes a four-sided isolation fence with self-closing and self-latching gates, pool alarms that sound when the water's surface is broken, and a heavy-duty safety cover for times when the pool is closed for extended periods.
Practice Safe Swimming Habits
Setting clear, non-negotiable household rules helps children understand that the pool area requires attention to safety.
No Running on the Deck: Wet pool coping and decking can become incredibly slick. Enforce a strict walking-only rule to prevent painful slips and head injuries.
Look Before You Leap: Ensure swimmers always check the water before jumping in to make sure they aren't landing on a friend or an underwater toy.
Know the Main Drain: Teach children never to play near or sit on the pool’s suction drains. Modern pool construction utilizes safety drain covers, but it is still a best practice to keep little hands, feet, and especially long hair far away from suction grates.
Let Hardwick Pools Protect Your Investment and Your Family
A safe pool is a well-maintained pool. When your water chemistry is balanced correctly by professionals, you avoid skin irritations and chemical imbalances that can disrupt summer fun. Furthermore, keeping your mechanical equipment in peak working order ensures that safety features work exactly when they are supposed to. Whether you need a safety inspection of your pool equipment, a secure upgrade to your filtration system, or routine maintenance to keep your water crystal clear all summer long, Hardwick Pools is here to help. Enjoy the sunshine, make unforgettable summer memories, and stay safe in the water!