| Pool Safety Tips & Equipment |
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BASIC SAFETY TIPS
Drowning is one of the major causes of accidents resulting in serious injury and death in children. Parents should not be fooled into thinking that their child is safe just because he/she knows how to swim. In a lot of these cases accidents happened even though the child knew swimming. Accidents in the swimming pool can happen very suddenly without warning. It is very important that all parents follow these basic safety precautions especially if there is a swimming pool at home.
- Never allow your youngster to swim alone without any adult supervision. It is quite common to develop a cramp underwater, or for accidents like hitting your head while diving for example, to occur. It is paramount that there should be persons around to help in such situations.
- Do not allow children with no knowledge of swimming in or around the pool. For good pool safety make sure that all kids above the age of 4 attend a certified swimming class, or atleast learn basic flotation techniques and life saving techniques in case of accidents. Children younger than 4 should always be accompanied by their parents in the pool.
- Enclose your pool with high fences, which can be locked. Do not leave the pool open and accessible since children can fall inside. Keep your pool safe, and keep your kids away from the poolside.
- Avoid leaving your kids alone even with small portable pools or water bodies like buckets, fountains, and barrels. There is always a danger of drowning occuring even in small bodies of water.
- In case of a backyard swimming pool, make sure that the cover of the pool is completely lifted over the pool. Do not partially open the pool. Also make sure that your child does not walk over the pool cover.
- Spas and Hot Tubs must also be avoided, especially in the case of younger children who are susceptible to overheating.
- For good pool safety, you can make sure that there is always a life saving floation device handy near the pool. Also, every parent should be conversant in basic CPR techniques in case of any accident.
- The last, but not the least, to ensure swimming pool safety, be observant. Watch what your kids are upto, and supervise their activities. Do not leave them alone.
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Pool Alarms
Pool alarms are mandatory for all new swimming pools on Long Island. They are also a good idea for all swimming pools old or new.
Brief Summary of Alarm Requirements for Residential Swimming Pools:
Every swimming pool that is installed, constructed or substantially modified after December 14, 2006 must be equipped with an approved pool alarm which:
A pool alarm must be capable of detecting entry into the water at any point on the surface of the swimming pool. If necessary to provide detection capability at every point on the surface of the swimming pool, more than one pool alarm must be installed.
Pool alarms are not required in:
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Pool Barriers (Fences)
Brief summary of Barrier Requirements for Outdoor Residential Swimming Pools:
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The barrier must completely surround the swimming pool and must obstruct access to the swimming pool.
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The barrier must be at least 4 feet (48 inches) high.
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In the case of an above-ground pool, the barrier may be at ground level or mounted on top of the pool structure; however, if the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, the space between the top of the pool structure and the bottom of the barrier cannot exceed 4 inches.
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A building wall can form part of the required barrier. However, where a wall of a dwelling serves as part of the barrier, at least one of the following requirements must be satisfied:
- the pool must be equipped with a powered safety cover
- all doors with direct access to the pool through that wall must be equipped with an alarm
- other means of protection, such as self-closing doors with self-latching devices, which are approved by the governing body
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In the case of an above-ground pool, the pool structure itself can serve as a part of the required barrier, provided that the pool structure is sufficiently rigid to obstruct access to the pool. However, where an above-ground pool structure is used as a barrier or where the barrier is mounted on top of the pool structure, and the means of access is a ladder or steps, then:
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the ladder or steps shall be capable of being secured, locked or removed to prevent access, or the ladder or steps shall be surrounded by a barrier
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when the ladder or steps are secured, locked or removed, any opening created shall not allow the passage of a 4-inch-diameter sphere.
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Barriers shall be located so as to prohibit permanent structures, equipment or similar objects from being used to climb the barriers.
Specific Barrier requirements can be found in the DOS document titled
"Current Requirements for Swimming Pools contained in the Uniform Fire
Prevention and Building Code (The "Uniform Code")"
Barrier requirements for One-and Two-Family Dwelling Swimming Pools
can be found in Appendix G, Residential Code of New York State
Barrier requirements for Residential Swimming Pools can be found in
Chapter 31, Section 3109, Building Code of New York State
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Additional Pool Requirements
Additional pool requirements such as anti-entrapment devices (suction fittings), safety glazing, backflow prevention, pool heaters and other requirements may be found in the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State or by contacting your local municipality or the Department of State Codes Division at (518)-474-4073.
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Please contact your local municipality for additional Code and Zoning Requirements. Local laws regarding fencing and other safety requirements for swimming pools may be more restrictive than requirements for swimming pools contained in the Uniform Code.
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New York State Department of Health
Additional Pool requirements can be found at the NYS Department of Health Website at http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/phforum/nycrr10.htm (click on Table of Contents then NEXT till SUBPART 6-1 SWIMMING POOLS.) Subpart 6-1 does not apply to swimming pools, or other bathing facility, owned and/or maintained by an individual for the use of family and friends.
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