Pool Safety Tips

Pool Chemical Safety Tips

One of the most important, yet often overlooked, aspects of pool safety is how pool chemicals are handled. Here are some tips to help prevent pool chemical accidents:

Keep all pool chemicals out of children's reach.
Don't smoke around chemicals. Some pool chemicals and their fumes are highly flammable.
If instructed to mix a chemical in a bucket of water prior to adding it to your pool, always add the chemical to the bucket of water, not the other way around. Remember to follow the label instructions on each chemical bottle, bucket or bag before use.
Avoid breathing fumes or rubbing your eyes, nose or mouth when handling pool chemicals. When opening, turn your head away from the container.
Use a clean, dry scoop or measuring cup when measuring pool chemicals. Interchanging scoops or using a wet scoop can be dangerous.
When adding more than one chemical to your pool, always add them to the water separately. Mixing chemicals can result in dangerous reactions. Again, always follow the label instructions on each chemical bottle, bucket or bag before use.
When spills happen, clean them as soon as they occur and dispose of all chemicals safely. Most small spills can simply be diluted in pool water. Never, ever use a vacuum to clean up spills.
Never overdose your pool. The theory that if a little is good, then a lot is better simply doesn't apply to pool care.
Always store pool chemicals properly. Always keep pool chemical containers closed when not in use. Some are corrosive and should never be stored near metal items like bicycles, lawn mowers or cars. Read label warnings.
The rules for handling biguanicide-based chlorine alternatives are even more rigid than using chlorine itself. Be sure to read the packages and containers thoroughly before use.

Questions about pool safety or pool chemical safety? Our Pool Care Experts are here to help - just call 888-766-5432.

Backyard swimming pools provide hours of fun for owners and their families and friends. They can also be used for parties or beautifully decorated for entertaining. But while enjoying - and allowing others to enjoy - your swimming pool, it's important to put safety first, for both children and adults. First and foremost, remember that there is never any substitute for alert adult supervision when children are in or around swimming pools.

Because poolside fun and safety should always go hand in hand, PoolGear Plus carries the widest assortment of pool safety products you'll find anywhere - everything from alarms and Coast Guard-approved buoys to safety covers and life preservers. It's part of our commitment to being your one-stop shop for pool supplies. While nothing can replace alert adult supervision when it comes to pool safe, these products will help you feel secure in the fact that you’ve made your pool a safe haven for the whole family.

PoolGear Plus offers in-ground and above-ground alarms that hang over the side of the pool and sound an alarm if an object as light as 15 pounds falls in. We also offer door and gate alarms that will let you know if an entryway is opened by a little one, or if an entry has been left open by accident. If you're not sure which pool alarm is right for you and your family, call 1-888-766-5432 and a knowledgeable, professional Pool Care Expert will be happy to assist you in your selection.

PoolGear Plus hopes that each and every one of our customers will make pool safety a priority. With this in mind, here are some additional pool safety tips:

Make swimming pool safety a family affair. Everyone in the household should have a complete understanding of pool safety rules and emergency procedures. Children should be aware that they must never approach the pool, even while playing outside of it, without an adult present and watching. Make sure at least one family member is CPR-certified, and always keep a cordless phone or cellphone poolside.
Use the buddy system. Never swim without a partner. Even an experienced swimmer, of any age, can suffer a muscle cramp, get injured from playing too roughly, or simply become too exhausted to swim. When swimming with a child or watching a child play in the pool, maintain visual contact.
Keep a life hook and ring bouy poolside. These tools, used by lifeguards at public swimming pools, are helpful in an emergency. A float line also contributes to a safer pool by indicating deepening water and in the event that someone becomes fatugued while swimming or playing in the pool.
Use depth markers to clearly indicate the depth of the water. Let smaller children and those who are inexperienced swimmers know what number marks the boundary that makes the rest of the pool off-limits.
Fence in your pool area and keep the gates locked. Check state regulations, your homeowner's insurance policy, and/or your homeowner's association for swimming pool fencing rules. The Consumer Product Safety Commission offers safety barrier guidelines for swimming pools.
Get out of the water immediately if a storm approaches. One of the benefits of having your own backyard swimming pool is that you can use it again later. Don't take chances if you see evidence of an approaching storm.