The Value of the Pool Fence

If we sound repetitive, it’s because we are, and it’s imperative we continue to raise awareness about the epidemic that is childhood drowning. According to the Center for Disease Control, three children die every day due to drowning, and it is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4. So if we understand the prevalence of drowning and know successful ways to combat it, then how come it remains a leading cause of death in our children? 

The short answer is complacency. We’ve become comfortable in thinking drowning can’t happen to our own child. So we don’t take the necessary steps to equip ourselves and our children with the effective layers of protection that can ultimately provide safety of some capacity in these dangerous occasions. 

Pool fences are one of those layers of protection that often get looked over as a “must-have” for families who own a home with a pool. Whether it’s parents, grandparents or friends, if you have a pool and you’re around young children in some capacity, you should have a pool fence. But the reality is that’s not the case in most instances. Many people see them as eyesores that take away from the aesthetic of their poolscape, so they forgo them completely. 

Jamie Corbett lost her son Gunner to drowning in 2019, self admittingly because they took their pool fence down to take more appealing photos for their MLS listing and didn’t put it back up immediately. It’s a move that haunts her to this day. 

The Layers of Protection

At Texas Swim Academy, we promote these six layers of protection in order to keep your child safe in or around the water:

1. Never leave a child unattended in or around water.
2. Always designate a Water Water to have eyes on any children in the pool during swim time.
3. Invest in the right survival swim lessons.
4. All pools should have barriers: fences, alarms, and drains that meet regulations.
5. Safety aides and equipment should be readily available at the pool area.
6. Know CPR and rescue techniques so you can perform them in the event of an emergency, and always look in the pool first if a child goes missing.

The Value of the Pool Fence

While Texas does have laws in place that require residential pool fences and barriers be intact, the waters are often muddied because counties, cities and towns also have their own pool laws in effect. So when you’re trying to determine the exact details of the laws that apply to your pool, it may be hard to get a firm answer. 

That’s when we step in and say pool fences create an added layer of protection that is necessary for safety in addition to survival swim lessons. So no matter what your municipalities say, we firmly believe a pool fence is a necessary part of your home and poolscape. There are many reputable pool fence companies that will provide you with the right kind of fence that meets these standards:

• Must be at least 48” high
• Must enclose the entire pool
• Not have any openings or gaps that are larger than 4” wide
• Must not be made of chain link fence

Gates must meet these standards:

• Be self-closing and self-latching
• Be able to be locked with a keypad, combination lock, padlock and keycard

Since the death of Jamie’s son, she’s spent her time advocating for stronger barrier laws throughout the state, as well as teaming up with Life Saver Pool Fence Systems, a USA-made pool fence company that is dedicated to protecting families against drowning. Life Saver has made it their mission to help those in need, so for every fence purchased, they are able to provide a family who experiences either a fatal or non-fatal drowning with a pool fence for free of charge. 

Katy Swim School & Survival Swim Lessons

When it comes to our children, there is no substitute for proper swim lessons and survival swimming skills. At Texas Swim Academy, we provide the right swim lessons for children as young as 6 months old. Give us a call to learn more about our survival swim program and to start equipping your child with the skills necessary to survive should an aquatic accident occur.

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 

Texas Swim Academy is a state-of-the-art swimming facility offering water safety, survival swim, and kids swimming lessons in Katy, Texas. Owners Kathleen and Bruce McMordie, alongside our certified staff, help parents introduce children to water at an early age through the Infant Survival Swim Program , teaching life-saving techniques and basic swimming skills.

Our Stroke Development Program offers six different levels to help students progress in their swimming skills at his or her own pace. Our Adaptive Aquatics Program was created specifically for children with special abilities. Find swimming class registration information here. By subscribing to Texas Swim Academy’s blog , you can stay current on valuable water safety resources such as survival swim, health and wellness, Texas Swim Academy news and more. Follow our Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube pages for even more news, updates, and tips!