Children's Health

Backyard and Playground Safety

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If you have a pool in your backyard, follow these guidelines:

• Surround the pool with a fence that is at least 48 inches high. Check with your city or county for additional requirements regarding pool fencing, covers, or alarm systems.
• Never leave a small child alone in or near a pool or spa/hot tub, even for a minute. A child can drown in less than three minutes.
• Keep toys, tricycles, wagons, and balls away from the pool. Children may attempt to retrieve toys that fall into the water and then fall in themselves.
• Keep electrical appliances (such as radios) away from the poolside as they pose a shock hazard if wet.
• A pool cover should cover the pool completely and attach to the patio floor so children cannot slip under it. Choose a pool cover that is designed for safety — not simply a cover that is designed to maintain the pool temperature.
• A hot tub should have a locking cover that you put on whenever the hot tub is not in use.
• Empty “baby” pools and put them away after every use, because they can fill with rain or water from sprinklers.

Keep these essential safety items near your home pool:

• A telephone or cell phone and phone numbers for emergency services
• A poster with safety and CPR instructions
• Shepherd’s hook, safety ring, and rope