We're moving to a pretty hot place, so are considering building a pool! I'm pretty worried about pool safety though...
What are the best ways to keep a pool secure?
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I think the best thing anyone can do is try not to be fearful, do you know what I mean? If I am all jumpy and nervous, my child acts the same way.
We have a pool and it is fenced. One thing that we are diligent about is that one of us adults must be in the pool while our son is in the water. We also talk a lot about safety and why it isn't a good idea to reach into the water, why we don't dive, etc.
Beyond that, rescue swim lessons.
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Swim lessons.
Fencing if possible. The baby mesh fences are great but you probably can't get that over there.
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@looch: Yah totally, good point!
I guess upon reflection, I'm also concerned about local kids sneaking into the pool... and something happening to them. How does your fencing work - is it right next to the edge of the pool?
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@mrbee: that is a totally valid point, about the neighborhood kids. My husband and I talked about that and we decided to install a camera that faces the pool. It's motion sensitive and he gets a picture sent to his phone so it can be monitored.
Our fence is around the perimeter of the pool, it's about 6 feet from the pool edge. It's not pretty, it's basic metal fencing, but it works. It also has a pressure gate, so it swings closed behind you.
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@mrbee: Yeah, if I had a pool, I'd fill it in with cement. But if I were moving to a beach town, I guess I'd just teach the heck out of safety lessons. That or get a leash.
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We just got a fence installed around our pool. It's the mesh kind so it has some aesthetics to it. We put it off for a long time but with baby #2 coming in March it really was time.
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@mrbee: my friend has an inground pool & has a rule that if you don't know how to swim, you have to wear a life jacket! It's an awesome rule!
They also have one of those alarms that float in the water so if something falls in, it sounds off. She said the downside is that if *anything* falls in, it goes off -- like if the wind blows in one of the kids toys!
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I'm with @sarac. The safest pool is none at all. If there already is one to contend with, then safety lessons. But you're going to be right on the ocean, right? Your best bet by far is to just go there to swim and enjoy all the other benefits of the ocean that pools don't even come close to replicating.
I live near the beach and love to swim, but honestly, I think pools are giant pits of waste--wasted money (for the owners, because maintenance, as my neighbors will tell you, is not cheap), and wasted resources (specifically, your time in dealing with maintenance, because even the pool guy has to be managed once and a while, and then there is the use of clean water and whatever chemicals evaporate into the air, not to mention all the plastic junk people tend to buy to make swimming in tiny, sterilized, concrete holes "fun"). When you take into consideration that a lot of people who have pools don't even use them that often, driving to the beach or even the public pool if the surf is rough is still more budget- and environmentally-friendly. I feel like I should point out that even daily use doesn't make a pool "worth it." They're still a significant cost center for the owner and an environmentally poor choice. Much better to just go listen to the waves at the beach.
TL;DR: If you're near the ocean, just go swimming there. It's much nicer for everyone, especially you. Swimming lessons are still a good idea!
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What about an above ground pool? They're less attractive, but may be easier to keep kids (yours and neighborhood kids) out of without an adult present. You can build a high fence around the deck and have a ladder that flips up and locks into place, making it really hard for anyone to wander in unsupervised.
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@honeybear: Yah totally, that's how I feel personally too!
But we're going to be running my parent's beachside b&b/small resort... and I feel like a pool is a great amenity for guests.
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At your kid's ages they just need to know how to swim, tread water, and not jump or dive into the shallow end.
For younger kids that may not heed a stay indoors warning a pool should be securely off limits through use of locks or gates.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Any thoughts on the various safety options? The one I liked the best was a retractable cover, but from what I read it was pretty expensive and prone to breaking!
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@mrbee:
Depending on your typical (or desired) clientele, I would probably try to position the resort as outdoor activity-based and arrange visits to local natural spots for kayaking/canoeing/sailing/snorkeling/bicycling for guests. My beach town is moving in that general direction, and I think it is working to attract visitors, particularly younger families with relatively high vacation budgets. I have a hard time imagining flying all the way to the El Nido to spend time sitting next to a pool! I expect that foreign guests who go to a local B&B are mostly looking for a highly unique experience and I'll bet your family is already giving that to them! From the photos you guys have posted, it looks awesome as it is, frankly. Also, if there's a commercial use for the pool, doesn't it have a pretty big impact on insurance? I would probably buy some dinghies or kayaks or a Hobie cat (and hire a local sailor to help out) or plant a nice garden or make a different improvement with the pool money instead.
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<< I would probably try to position the resort as outdoor activity-based and arrange visits to local natural spots for kayaking/canoeing/sailing/snorkeling/bicycling for guests. >>
@honeybear: Yah we have kayaks, boats, snorkeling for guests... and island-hopping boat rides and inland tours too. That stuff is all popular!
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@mrbee: I figured you probably did!
I'd choose to stay the course, then. It really seems like it's fantastic as it is! You may have this too, but one "luxury" amenity I really love is an outdoor shower. It's a bit tricky to pull off in buggy spots, but they're super useful on return trips from the beach. And they're fun, kind of like playing in the sprinkler, but socially acceptable for adults!
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@mrbee: you mentioned you also need to make sure neighborhood kids don't go for a swim, so I would either make the resort inaccessible to outsiders or create a large patio space around the pool where you can add enclose it with a large wall/ fence. Landscaping on the outside of the fence wouldn'r make the open-air structure look like an eyesore. In Florida alot of the pools are enclosed in fully netted structured which protects swimmers from bugs and provides shades. Only downside is these are prone to collapse during hurricanes. The enclosures have doors to access them and those can be locked.
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@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Interesting about the screened-in structures - never heard of them before, but just read up a bunch on Google. Thanks!!
Depending on your typical (or desired) clientele, I would probably try to position the resort as outdoor activity-based and arrange visits to local natural spots for kayaking/canoeing/sailing/snorkeling/bicycling for guests. My beach town is moving in that general direction, and I think it is working to attract visitors, particularly younger families with relatively high vacation budgets. I have a hard time imagining flying all the way to the El Nido to spend time sitting next to a pool! I expect that foreign guests who go to a local B&B are mostly looking for a highly unique experience and I'll bet your family is already giving that to them! From the photos you guys have posted, it looks awesome as it is, frankly. Also, if there's a commercial use for the pool, doesn't it have a pretty big impact on insurance? I would probably buy some dinghies or kayaks or a Hobie cat (and hire a local sailor to help out) or plant a nice garden or make a different improvement with the pool money instead.
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