Pool Code

Every state, county, and municipallity can have its own rules regarding public and private swimming pools. There are basic national guidelines that we follow when you spcify a pool fence. However it is YOUR responsibility to check with local building codes about their particular ordinances. We will do everything we can to accomodate you.

• Any style 1 picket fence can  be made to meet pool code at 4' high or taller. However in order to do so, you must specify pool code.
• Any style 2, 3, or 4 picket fence can be made to meet pool code at 5' high or taller. However in order to do so, you must specify pool code.
• Any privacy fence that is at least 4' high (not including an accent) will meet pool code.
• Special styles likes Diamond Royale and Diamond Special must be 5' high to meet pool code. 
• Keywest Variation will never meet pool code.
• Louver and horizontal shadowbox are skeptical and may or may not work in pool code applications.
• Some areas will require closer spacing on panels and especially gates and special requirements on the gate hardware. Please always check with your local building code before ordering.

From www.usa.safekids.org

Child Death Review Survey Results
Data from 496 unintentional childhood drowning deaths were submitted to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. They represent 89 percent of all unintentional drowning deaths occurring in these 17 states from January 2000 to December 2001. Unintentional drownings made up 95 percent of all drowning deaths among children ages 14 and under reviewed by these states.

Sixty percent of the reviewed drowning deaths occurred among children ages 4 and under. This finding is consistent with the nearly 61 percent of all childhood drowning deaths that occur among this age group nationally. Twenty-three percent of reviewed deaths were among children ages 5 to 9, and 17 percent among children ages 10 to 14.

The majority of drowning victims in reviewed cases were male: 72 percent versus 28 percent female. This finding is consistent with past studies that have found male children have a drowning rate two to four times that of female children.^{13 14 15}

White children accounted for 69 percent of the reviewed drowning deaths and 73 percent of childhood drownings nationally. Nineteen percent of reviewed drowning deaths occurred among black children, and 20 percent were among Hispanic children. Nationally, black and American Indian children have drowning rates 50 to 70 percent higher than white children. Hispanic children have lower drowning rates than non-Hispanics, accounting for only 15 percent of U.S. childhood drownings.

Parent and Tween Survey Results
Parents and children report child participation in many types of water recreation. Almost all children (97 percent) ages 8 to 12 report that they have been swimming in the last year. Nearly two-thirds (61 percent) of parents report that their children ages 14 and under have ridden on boats, and 32 percent report that their child participates in water sports.

Despite this considerable exposure to water, parents do not feel that their children are especially vulnerable to water hazards. Though it is the second leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14, more than half of parents (55 percent) reported that they do not worry very much or at all about their child drowning.

SUPERVISION

Child Death Review Survey Results
Eighty-eight percent of children were under some form of supervision when they drowned. Forty-six percent of drowning victims in the reviewed deaths were in the care of a parent at the time of the incident. Twenty-six percent were in the care of a relative other than a parent, including 5 percent in the care of a sibling younger than 18 years of age and 6 percent in the care of a grandparent. Ten percent of the drowning victims were completely unsupervised at the time of the drowning and determined by reviewers to have required supervision. The majority (79 percent) of these unsupervised children were ages 5 to 14. These results are consistent with past studies indicating that childhood drownings and near-drownings typically occur when a child is left unattended or during a brief lapse in supervision.^{16 17}

Sixty-eight percent of children were in or near the water right before the drowning incident, and 32 percent were last known to be in another location in or around the home, most commonly playing outdoors (31 percent).

Of drowning deaths occurring away from home, only 6 percent of children drowned in the known presence of a lifeguard. Rescue was known to have been attempted in 60 percent of the reviewed drowning deaths, most commonly by a parent or other relative (66 percent).

Parent and Tween Survey Results
Nearly all parents (94 percent) report that they always actively supervise their children while swimming. However, deeper examination reveals that parents participate in a variety of distracting behaviors while supervising, including talking to others (38 percent), reading (18 percent), eating (17 percent) and talking on the phone (11 percent).

One in five parents (20 percent) believes that when lifeguards are present, the lifeguard is the main person responsible for supervising children in the water. However, the typical lifeguard-to-swimmer ratio at public swimming areas may be as great as 25 swimmers per lifeguard.

Most parents (55 percent) felt there were some circumstances where it is okay for a child to swim without adult supervision, such as if the child swims with a buddy (31 percent), if the child is an excellent swimmer (29 percent) or if the child has had several years of swimming lessons (23 percent). Mothers were more likely than fathers to report that it was not acceptable for kids to swim without supervision in these circumstances – 57 percent versus 30 percent.

Four in 10 tweens (41 percent) said that they would feel safe swimming without a lifeguard or an adult watching them, and 31 percent reported they have gone swimming without any adult present. Older tweens (ages 10 to 12) were more likely to have swum without supervision (37 percent) than younger tweens (19 percent). Additionally, 39 percent of children ages 10 to 12 and 21 percent of children ages 8 to 9 reported that they have supervised a younger child while they were swimming.

 

A copy of Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools produced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission can be obtained by writing to: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Pool Barriers Office of Information & Public Affairs Washington, D.C., 20207 Or at their Web site: www.cpsc.gov

Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/Pool.pdf Pool Fencing Can Prevent Child Drownings http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml89/89052.html CPSP Pool and Spa Safety Publications http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/chdrown.html American Academy of Pediatrics Pool Safety for Children http://www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm Pool and Spa Emergency Procedures http://nspi.org/consumer_info/ Drowning Prevention Tips http://nspi.org/consumer_info/