Swimming Pool Safety

Swimming Pool Safety

Summer is here, and while swimming pools are perfect spots to gather with family and friends to enjoy the warmer temperature, they can also present serious dangers if not properly secured and supervised. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has multiple regulations in place for the construction and design of residential pools to prevent pool-related accidents. If you have any questions, contact our office at 413.475.7283 or Complete our online quote form today!

All pools in Massachusetts must:

Be enclosed by a fence or other structure at least four feet high
Have locking gates
Have the lock four feet above ground (or more) to keep away from small children.

If someone suffers a personal injury or drowning in a residential pool that was not properly fenced in, the homeowner can be liable for those injuries.

Pool owners should talk to their insurance agents about the coverage they need for liability around pool use. You should always choose to have insurance for injuries related to pool accidents. Your liability in the case of an accident will depend the situation, including perceived negligence. For instance, if you offer to watch children swimming in your pool and one of the children drowns, the child’s parents could have a case against you for negligence.

Your potential liability doesn’t stop when you aren’t at home. If a curious neighborhood child finds his way into your pool and is hurt or killed, you could be found negligent. The chances that you’d be declared legally responsible rise if you knew that neighborhood children were visiting your pool and did nothing about it, or if your pool lacked a fence or a locked gate to prevent kids from getting in.

Insurance is just one protection for pool owners. Taking safety precautions is also an important component of pool ownership, and one that insurance carriers and local ordinances may require. Locking gates that close automatically, safety covers, alarms, and monitored video surveillance can all help keep uninvited people out of the pool.

Keep ring buoys, reaching poles, and a first-aid kit near your pool. Know how to shut off filters and other pool components; post this information near the pool. Learn basic water safety and rescue skills, including CPR. Limit alcohol consumption when the pool is in use.

Perhaps most important, get your children (and anyone else who needs to learn) swim lessons. Knowing how to swim is a life skill, and a particularly vital one for anyone who has access to a private pool.

At the end of the day, you want your guests to have a good time, while still staying safe. The best way to do that is to make your home as safe as possible, and getting enough insurance coverage just in case something does happen. To learn more about Encharter’s homeowners insurance, you can call and speak to an agent at 888-754-8299 or visit us online at Encharter.com. We will be happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have!