Six things you can do to keep your pool safe

If you own a swimming pool in Georgia, it’s important to keep it safe not only for your family, but also for guests and others who may come onto your property.

Toddlers and older children may come onto your property with or without an invitation, and could injure themselves or drown. Guests could slip and fall due to an unsafe condition, and as the property owner, you could be liable for medical bills, lost wages and other damages.

Here are six things you can do to prevent swimming pool accidents:

1. Install a barrier such as a wall or a fence that is at least four feet high and does not have an opening greater than four inches. The gate must have a self-locking gate.
2. Install slip-resistant surfaces on the deck around the pool and on steps.
3. Install handrails on steps leading into the pool.
4. Clearly mark pool depths.
5. If you have a diving board, be sure the water is deep enough. Depending on the length of your diving board, the water should be from eight-and-a-half feet to 12-feet deep.
6. Keep safety equipment such as shepherd hooks in an accessible location.

For more information about Georgia’s pool safety rules, please refer to the Georgia Department of Health pool and spa safety rules. These rules apply to public and private swimming pools and spas in Georgia.