Safety First!

If you own a pool, please consider the following safety facts:

1. Diving and sliding head first into water causes more paralyzing injuries than all other
   sports combined. Most pools offered by Tritan are NOT of sufficient depth to accommodate diving.
2. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death. It is second only to traffic
   accidents.
3. Children of adult size (5’ -2” and weighing more than 120 lbs.) are most
   likely to be injured in a diving accident. Most paralyzing accidents occur in the
   shallow part of the pool from diving.
4. It is the responsibility of the pool owner is to:
   1. Warn users of the pool about hazards.
   2. Protect against misuse.
   3. Correct unsafe conditions.

Accidents happen. Be prepared. Review your insurance coverage on your house and property in advance of letting strangers use your pool.
It is the pool owner’s responsibility is to protect against misuse whether they are physically supervising activities at the pool or not.

1. If you see anyone engaging in a dangerous activity, you have a responsibility to
   warn them and to tell them to stop.
2. Never, ever leave a child alone near water unaccompanied.
3. Verbalize your rules aloud in addition to posting them in a visible location.
4. Prohibit glass of any sort in the pool area.
5. Post the number of the nearest hospital or other emergency service in clear view of pool.
6. Learn the proper techniques for removing an injured person from the pool.

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death. Drowning usually occurs when one or more of the following circumstances happens:

1. 1. Unsupervised swimming.

      An adult is always responsible when a child drowns. Never leave a child alone at the pool.

   2. Leaving pools uncovered when not in use

      Pool covers are often durable enough for children to crawl and walk upon, providing a first line of defense against drowning.

   3. Unprotected pools, not surrounded by fencing.

   4. Unlocked safety gates.

   5. Unaccompanied Swimming

   6. Drains and Entrapment Avoidance

      The suction force from an unprotected drain can result in serious injury or death. All drains must be equipped with proper covers. In the event a cover is broken or missing the pool MUST BE SHUT DOWN until the cover is repaired and/or replaced. Under no circumstances should children or adults be allowed to play with or near a drain or drain cover.

Here are some suggestions for pool rules. Please feel free to copy these and distribute them to family, friends and neighbors who will be using your pool:

The following warnings and rules have been established for you, the responsible owner, with a series of guidelines that when adhered to will reduce the likelihood of severe catastrophic or potentially fatal injury. Pool industry research indicates that most injuries involve one or more of the following:

• head first entry into shallow water (3’-7’)
• alcohol or drug use
• lack of parental supervision and lack of first aid and/or CPR training.

In addition, most diving injuries occur to first time guests, usually male, ages 15-21, at social gatherings. Drowning victims are usually small children who reside at the house, and who are left unattended. Based upon this information the following recommendations provide a guideline for instituting responsible pool safety practices:

1. All users should be informed of pool rules prior to entering pool area.
2. NO DIVING / ALWAYS ENTER POOL “FEET FIRST”.
3. Prior to entrance of any body of water, survey pool and pool area.
4. Never use a pool when a drain cover is broken or missing. Never allow anyone to
   play near or with drain covers.
5. Running on the deck, and horseplay of any kind are not tolerated in the pool or pool
   area.
6. Persons who appear to be intoxicated or under the influence of Medication, Drugs
   or Alcohol should not be permitted in your pool.
7. Do not presume, always ask the question: “Can you/your child swim?”, when you
   have guests.
8. Running and then jumping or diving into the water is not allowed.
9. Use the buddy system when using the pool. Do Not Swim Alone.
10. Transition/safety rope used to warn swimmers of changing water depth must be in
    place at all times when pool is being used and should not be used for games or as a
    method of flotation or support.
11. No glass in the pool area.
12. No electrical devices/appliances in or around the pool, unless it is protected by a
    GFCI, GFCI must be checked prior to using.
13. Pool should be lighted when swimming after dark.
14. Pool games that may result in injury should not be permitted in pool or pool area.
15. All social gatherings should be carefully monitored.
16. Inspect pool before and after each use.
17. Post emergency numbers at pool.
18. A First Aid Kit should be kept in the pool vicinity.
19. Basic life saving equipment, including at least one of the following, must be on
    hand at all times:
    1. 1. A light, strong, rigid pole (shepherd’s hook) not less than 12 feet in length
       2. A minimum 1/4” (one-quarter inch) [6.35mm] diameter rope as long as 1-1/2
          times the maximum width of the pool which has been firmly attached to a
          Coast Guard-approved ring buoy having an outside diameter of approximately
          15 inches.
20. Life Preserver must have Coast Guard approved label.
21. Pool toys should be kept to a minimum and should be removed from pool after
    each use.
22. No sleeping on pool flotation devices in pool.
23. Pool equipment and chemicals are to be handled with appropriate Personal
    Protective Equipment (PPE) and by adults only.
24. There shall be no protrusions or other obstructions in the swimming area, which
    may cause entrapment or entanglement by the user of the pool.
25. Barriers are essentially for preventing unsupervised access to the pool or pool area
    by children. Examples include fences with self latching gates, safety covers and
    alarms on doors and windows. None of these devices, however, is a substitute for
    constant adult supervision.
26. Keep pool fence locked when not in use. When working in and around pool keep
    gate closed.
27. Never allow anyone to sit, stand or play on a solar or safety cover. Infants or small
    children can drown even in water accumulated on the top of a cover.