The Truth About Pool Covers
According to Child Accident Prevention Jersey (CAPJ), aside from its two public swimming pools, there are about 1,000 outdoor domestic swimming pools in Jersey. Their records show that there’s an average of one child drowning/near drowning in every home pools annually and children aged 5 and under are most at risk.
With an advocate to prevent drowning, CAPJ now aims to educate more pool owners about swimming pool safety and their first step is to gather endorsements for its new safety code – Home Swimming Pool Safety Code.
Louise Hamilton, CAPJ coordinator, said: "Water is very enticing to young children and pool covers are an additional hazard - children trying to walk on a cover can fall under them and cause a delayed rescue because the child cannot be seen."
Wait… Pool covers are an additional hazard? They are meant to prevent drowning, right? Or maybe not exactly…
A tragic pool accident happened in July 19 last year somehow agrees that pool cover might not exactly protect a child from drowning.
Two-year old twins named Angelina and Veronica Andreottola drowned in their swimming pool after one of them accidentally pushed the switch that partially opened the pool’s electric-powered retractable cover. Their bodies were found under the pool cover.
So, pool covers, especially the electric-powered retractable ones, are not to be trusted?
Not exactly.
Although we can quickly conclude that pool covers are meant to cover the pool and prevent drowning, not all pool covers are the same.
There are three types of pool cover such as winter pool cover, solar pool cover and safety pool cover. The latter obviously is the most appropriate one.
Louise Hamilton, CAPJ coordinator, said: "Water is very enticing to young children and pool covers are an additional hazard - children trying to walk on a cover can fall under them and cause a delayed rescue because the child cannot be seen."
Wait… Pool covers are an additional hazard? They are meant to prevent drowning, right? Or maybe not exactly…
A tragic pool accident happened in July 19 last year somehow agrees that pool cover might not exactly protect a child from drowning.
Two-year old twins named Angelina and Veronica Andreottola drowned in their swimming pool after one of them accidentally pushed the switch that partially opened the pool’s electric-powered retractable cover. Their bodies were found under the pool cover.
So, pool covers, especially the electric-powered retractable ones, are not to be trusted?
Not exactly.
Although we can quickly conclude that pool covers are meant to cover the pool and prevent drowning, not all pool covers are the same.
There are three types of pool cover such as winter pool cover, solar pool cover and safety pool cover. The latter obviously is the most appropriate one.
Many pool owners make a big mistake of purchasing an “ordinary” pool cover thinking that they will protect their swimming pool from debris and at the same time protect their loved ones from drowning. Some pool covers are not that thick to support a child’s weight and some can cause accidental slip that may result to drowning or head injury.
Pool owners should also do their part of choosing the right pool cover appropriate for a child’s age and keeping the safety pool cover securely installed.
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