POOL SAFETY

Pool Safety is my number one concern when designing a swimming pool environment. Drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death in the United States, with approximately 3,000 deaths by drowning occurring each year nationwide. The group with the highest drowning rate is young children aged 1 through 4. More than 30% of all drowning deaths occur to children in this age group. Furthermore children aged 1 to 14, drowning is the second highest cause of death.

Texas Regulations on Fencing for Pool Safety

Noteworthy, Cities Governments have their own requirements and restrictions regarding the configuration and height of pool fencing, yet the State of Texas has established guidelines that apply throughout the state. Provisions of Chapter 757 of the Texas State Health and Safety Codes, homeowners are required to maintain fencing and gates around their swimming pools that meet the following criteria:

Pool fences are required to be at least four feet in height. Gaps in or under the fence must be too small to allow a spherical object of four inches to pass beneath or between. New pool enclosure installations may not be constructed of chain link fencing materials.

For proper pool safety gates must be designed to self-close, self-latch automatically to provide added security for the pool area. Latching mechanisms must be installed in the top one-fourth of the pool side of the gate to prevent children from accessing due to opening them easily. In conclusion Texas law requires that pool gates must be lockable by padlock, combination lock or built-in keyed or card-operated lock.

Wood fences constructed of horizontal - vertical pieces must be oriented to place the horizontal cross-pieces on the side nearest the pool to prevent their use in climbing over the fence from the outside.

Residential Commercial Swim Safety

https://www.dshs.texas.gov/poolspa/laws-rules.aspx

Public - Commercial Swim Safety

http://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=5&ti=25&pt=1&ch=265&sch=L&rl=Y

1. Teach all children in your home how to swim before your pool is installed. Below are links to swim schools. 
2. Children should never be allowed in the pool area or pool without constant adult supervision.
3. Use the buddy system, and no one should swim alone.
4. A person who appears intoxicated or under the influence of a substance of any kind should not be permitted to swim.
5. The pool gate should remain locked when not under adult supervision.
6. Make no assumptions. When guests are over, ask, "Do you know how to swim?"
7. The pool area should be lit when used after dusk.
8. Before the entrance, survey the pool and pool area for any potential hazards.
9. Any pool chemicals should be safely stored in accordance with manufacturer instructions where they cannot be accessed by children.
10. A GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) must protect any electrical devices in the pool area. 
11. If your pool changes depth, the transition or safety rope should remain in place to warn swimmers of a change in the slope towards the deeper end.
12. Before entering the pool area, all users—including family and guests — should be familiar with the rules for safe pool use.
13. If your pool is equipped with a diving board, everyone who uses it should be familiar with all instructions for safe use provided by the equipment manufacturer.
14. All drains in the pool should be appropriately covered, and no one should play with or near a drain cover or drain. If any drain cover is broken or missing, close the pool and have it serviced.
15. Have a First Aid kit in the pool area. 
16. Enter the pool feet first. A pool that is not equipped with a diving board is designated a NON-diving pool. Therefore, no one should make a head-first entry (diving or otherwise) into that type of pool. 
17. No one should stand or play on a pool cover.
18. Always Keep your pool adequately maintained to maintain a sanitary area.
19. Keep emergency phone numbers posted. Keep a phone available in the pool area.
20. No running or horseplay should be allowed in or near the pool area.
21. Always keep safety equipment near the pool, including a flotation device and something you could reach out to someone from the pool deck (i.e., a pole).
22. No one should climb on or jump off rocks, boulders, waterfalls, or any other structure not intended for entrance into a pool. This can lead to slipping and injury.

Aqua Mobile Swim School

https://aquamobileswim.com/

Aqua Kids Swim School

http://www.aquakids.com

Aqua Tots Swim School

https://www.aqua-tots.com/

Emler Swim School

https://emlerswimschool.com/