Did you know that you CAN and SHOULD have multiple barriers of protection if you have a pool in your yard? With children in the home and a pool in the yard, one barrier of protection is not enough to childproof your pool. 

The facts are heartbreaking – drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 4 and the majority of these drownings happen in home pools or hot tubs. Even more alarming is that most children who drown were not expected to be near the pool and were last seen inside the home or were out of sight for less than five minutes. 

But most of these drownings are preventable and we want to help you childproof your pool! In this blog post, you’ll learn how physical barriers help prevent drowning, which physical barriers are effective in childproofing your pool, and other effective layers of protection to keep your kids safe around the water! This post is especially for homeowners with a pool in their yard - whether you have children in the home or not - to learn how to prevent children from accessing the water unsupervised. 

What are effective physical barriers to child proof your pool?

When you think about physical barriers, think about anything that reliably prevents access to the pool or alerts a parent if a child has crossed that barrier including fences, locks on doors and windows, alarms on doors and windows, pool alarms, and pool covers. These physical barriers are the first line of defense against children having access to the water, accidentally falling in the pool, and drowning. While they cannot guarantee that an accident will never occur, they significantly reduce the likelihood of a child having access to water without supervision.

We'll say it once and we'll say it again: one physical barrier is not enough to childproof your pool and prevent accidents. You should implement multiple physical barriers to make the path to the pool as challenging as possible, significantly decreasing the likelihood of a child finding themselves near the pool without adult supervision. Each added layer makes it harder for children to access the pool unsupervised and enhances safety.

Safety Fences

Fences are the most effective physical barrier against drowning because they significantly reduce a child’s ability to access the pool without adult supervision. While they do reduce the risk of drowning, not all fences are created equal, and there are important characteristics fences need to have to be considered an effective physical barrier in childproofing your pool.

There are several different types of fences to consider such as a removable mesh fence, wrought iron fence, or an aluminum fence. All these fences can be good options as long as they meet certain criteria to be considered an effective barrier to the pool. 

Removable Mesh Fences are a popular choice because they are lightweight, durable, and easy to install. And the mesh material is designed to withstand weather elements while still being see-through, giving parents visibility to the pool area. Wrought Iron or Aluminum Fences are very sturdy, permanent fences. They are harder to climb, are aesthetically pleasing without compromising pool security or visibility.

So what makes a pool fence effective to prevent drowning?

Regardless of the type of fence you decide to install, the fence must have certain features to be considered an effective physical barrier to childproof your pool.

Here are the features you should look for in an effective pool fence: 

• 4 sides: A pool fence should completely enclose a pool, isolating its access, with 4 connected sides. You may be wondering if having a fence that encloses your property is enough of a safeguard for your pool. Typically, these property enclosures are only 3-sided and do not create a barrier between the doors of the home and the pool - which is the biggest access point for children to backyard pools. A 4-sided pool fence in addition to a property fence is the most effective way to childproof your pool. 
• Unclimbable: We all know climbing is in a kid’s DNA, so a pool fence needs to be high enough - at least 4 feet tall - to prevent children from climbing over and it should not have anything that could act as a foothold to promote, encourage, or aid in a child climbing the fence. You most often see these footholds on traditional wooden fences or chain link fences. Make sure any objects that could be used to climb - like tables, chairs, or toys - are placed away from the fence to keep even your most adventurous climbers away from the pool! 
• Self-closing and self-latching gate: A fence is only as good as its gate, right? That’s why having a self-closing, self-latching gate is non-negotiable. The gate should automatically shut and latch behind you so it’s never accidentally left open after someone uses it. And here’s a key tip: make sure the latch is placed high enough—at least 54 inches off the ground—so little hands can’t reach it. 
• Gap size: If there are gaps in the fence (this is the case with the aluminum or wrought iron fence types), the gap between each slat should be no more than 4 inches to keep even the smallest of kids from squeezing through the fence. 

We know you may want us to tell you exactly which fence is the most effective in childproofing your pool, but the reality is you have a lot of great options that you can choose from to best fit your family’s needs, as long as they meet the safety characteristics we’ve mentioned. 

Locks on Doors & Windows

In addition to an effective fence, you should install locks on your doors and windows that prevent your child from being able to access the pool from inside the house. A child can easily (and quickly) wander outside to the pool area through an unlocked door or window without an adult noticing right away. Installing high-quality, unreachable locks on all doors leading to the water is a critical step in childproofing your pool.

What types of locks can be installed on doors and windows to limit access to a pool?

• Deadbolts: Deadbolt locks are an excellent choice for exterior doors leading to pool areas. They are more secure than traditional door knob locks and are harder for small children to operate. Install high on the door frame to prevent children from unlocking. 
• Childproof Latches: These are designed specifically for homes with small children. The latch may require two motions to unlock or a special tool to open, making it difficult for children to access doors leading to the pool. You can install these locks high on the door frame, making them both challenging to operate and unreachable. 
• Window Locks & Screens: Most windows have locks built into the window frame that are difficult for a child to reach and operate. If you think your child could bypass the locks built into your window frame, consider an additional window security lock.

What about doggie doors?

Get rid of them! A question we often get is: 'How do I secure a doggie door?' As useful as doggie doors can be for pets, if you have small children in the house and have a pool or water risk in your yard (or neighbor's yard), we recommend removing doggie doors. They are too hard to effectively lock and are too enticing for kids to climb in and out of, leading to unsupervised access to the pool.

Alarms on Doors & Windows 

Another physical barrier to consider that helps prevent water-related accidents? Door and window sensors! You can install them on any door or window that leads to your yard, pool, or any other water risk area. The moment a door or window is opened, they trigger an alert—either a notification on your phone or a loud alarm. It’s a quick way to know if someone, like your curious toddler, is heading toward the water when they shouldn’t be. 

Pool Alarms

So what about pool alarms? To add another layer of security to your pool, you can add a pool alarm - alerting you immediately if anyone gets in the water. These pool alarms typically attach over the edge of the pool, are submerged underwater, or float on top of the water. As soon as a child falls in the water, the alarm goes off, giving you an instant notification to get to the water. Many parents assume they will hear a child struggling in the water but drowning is silent so a loud alarm is a great tool to use to childproof your poof. 

You can turn the alarm off during supervised swim time, but don’t forget to reset it once everyone is out of the water. Pool alarm technology is improving all the time, so when you’re shopping for one, look for a model that’s tamper-proof, thoroughly tested, and doesn’t give you constant false alarms.

Pool Covers

Let’s talk about pool covers! When used the right way, they can be another effective physical barrier to help childproof your pool—but only if they meet certain safety standards. Along with fences, locks, and alarms, pool covers add another layer of protection by keeping little ones from accessing the water when the pool isn’t in use.

But here’s the catch: not all pool covers are created equal. Stay away from floating solar covers and winter covers. These might seem like a good idea, but they actually increase the risk of drowning because kids can easily slip under and get trapped. Instead, choose a pool cover that meets the ASTM International Voluntary Standard F1346-91. And don’t forget—proper installation and maintenance are key to making sure your pool cover does its job.

What are other layers of protection to prevent drowning at home?

While physical barriers like fences, locks, alarms, are essential in childproofing your pool, it’s important to remember that they are not foolproof. In addition to implementing physical barriers to limit access to your pool, here are some additional strategies to keep your kids safe around water.

Make Adult Supervision Non-Negotiable

Even if your child knows how to swim, dedicated adult supervision is non-negotiable anytime there is water present. Drownings can happen in seconds and often without any noise. Maintaining active supervision is one of the most effective strategies to prevent drowning. 

Enroll in High Quality Swim Lessons Early

High quality swim lessons are the best and most effective investment you can make in your child’s safety around water. This is why we always, always recommend enrolling your children in swim lessons at the earliest age possible. When enrolling in swim lessons, look for classes that emphasize water safety and include age-appropriate swimming and floating techniques.

Teach Your Kids Water Safety Rules

Teach your kids clear, simple water safety rules to establish that children never get in the water without an adult. Want advice on how to do this? Check out our blog post on how to talk to your kids about water safety.

Learn CPR

Even with the most effective physical barriers and strategies - accidents can still happen. In the event of an emergency, knowing how to perform CPR can be lifesaving. Many organizations, like the American Red Cross, offer CPR classes online and in person. Being prepared with child and infant CPR skills is another layer of protection that can make all the difference in an emergency situation. 

Start Childproofing Your Pool Today

When it comes to protecting your children from a home pool, we cannot stress this fact enough: a single physical barrier isn't enough to childproof your pool. Drowning remains the leading cause of death for children under four, often happening quickly in home pools where kids were last seen indoors or unsupervised for just minutes. To childproof your pool, it’s crucial to use multiple physical barriers - like fences, locks, alarms, pool covers, and pool alarms - working together to make it as difficult as possible for your child to access the water unsupervised.

But don’t stop there! Combine these physical barriers with active adult supervision, high-quality swim lessons, water safety rules, and CPR training for an effective water safety strategy. 

Take action today to child proof your pool! Start by assessing how secure your pool is right now. Can you child access the water? What additional physical barriers do you need to install to keep kids away from the pool without adult supervision? If you already have a fence, check it for signs of wear and tear, and make sure the gate closes and latches automatically every time it's used. If you don’t have a fence, start by contacting a few reputable fence companies for quotes. In the meantime, immediately install childproof latches on all windows and doors leading to the pool area and maintain active adult supervision at all times. 

By taking these steps, you can feel confident knowing you’re doing the right things to childproof your pool and protect your kids around water.