{"id":3437,"date":"2010-07-27T10:00:45","date_gmt":"2010-07-27T15:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/?p=3437"},"modified":"2010-07-27T02:52:37","modified_gmt":"2010-07-27T07:52:37","slug":"making-pools-safer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/2010\/07\/27\/making-pools-safer\/","title":{"rendered":"Making Pools Safer"},"content":{"rendered":"

What could possibly go wrong? That is a question which doesn\u2019t get asked often enough.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Fencing<\/a>

Fencing your pool is a very important safety measure you should take.<\/p><\/div>\n

In June of 2002, it was discovered<\/em> that the suction drain of a hot tub was strong enough to hold a child underwater. Seven-year-old Virginia Graeme Baker<\/a> lost her life because a spa manufacturer did not ask the question: what could go wrong? The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act<\/a> was signed into law in December of 2007.<\/p>\n

If it feels like five years was too long to wait for a regulation that makes spas and pools less able to hold children underwater \u2013 I agree. The Act calls for safety interlocks and anti-entrapment screens \u2500 all the things you think would be common sense, but apparently weren\u2019t. Implementation of the law is still<\/em> being worked out.<\/p>\n

But here is the thing \u2013 the pool in the backyard is yours. You can assume that designers and manufacturers (and government regulators) thought of everything, or you can start asking your own questions.<\/p>\n

At the bottom of this post is the list of questions I consider when setting up a pool for safe operation. However, It is best when used as a starting point and an example for your list. As with most things relating to water safety, there are too many variables for absolutes. The hazards that are particular to your own backyard pool or spa are ones that you alone are going to have to manage. It\u2019s hard and perhaps even stressful work, but I promise it will make your family safer.<\/p>\n

Risk Management 101<\/h3>\n

Sit down and look at your backyard and start thinking: what could go wrong here? <\/strong>Think about everything that your kids might get into and start making a list of answers. It doesn\u2019t matter how unlikely the hazard might be \u2013 from the most obvious risk (teens jumping from the roof into the pool \u2013 and they all think about it) to the most harmless looking trip hazard \u2013 list everything.<\/p>\n

\"Risk<\/a>

Risk Assessment 101<\/p><\/div>\n

Once you\u2019ve come up with your list of answer to the \u201cwhat could go wrong\u201d questions \u2013 apply the following to help you decide what to do about them.<\/p>\n

Note: These next steps are vital. Please stay with me and do the work.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many formalized models of risk assessment, but at their core they are based on the following principle:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Given a particular hazard, determine the probability of occurrence and weigh it against the potential severity of the outcome.<\/li>\n
  2. If the risk is assessed as anything other than low<\/em> \u2013 take steps to lower the probability or potential severity of the hazard.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \"A

    A Pool Safety Net<\/p><\/div>\n

    Applying that model to pool safety, it looks like this:<\/p>\n