With the warmer summer weather fast approaching, the Lisle Woodridge Fire District would like to remind residents about using good pool safety habits with these simple tips.

• Children are drawn to water; not knowing the terrible danger pools can pose. Just because children know how to swim does not mean they are safe. All children should be supervised at all times when in and around a pool.

• Fences and walls should be at least four feet high and installed completely around the pool. Fence gates should be self-latching and self closing. The latch should be out of the reach of a small child.

• Keep furniture that could be used for climbing into the pool area away from fences.

• If your home forms one side of the pool barrier, doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with alarms that produce a sound when a door is unexpectedly opened or secured with a lock.

• A safety cover – a manual or motor powered barrier that can be placed over the water area can be used when the pool is not in use.

• Keep rescue equipment by the pool including a phone with “9-1-1” posted as the emergency number.

• Knowing CPR can be a lifesaver.

• Don’t leave pool toys and floats in the pool or pool area. These may attract young children to the water. For above ground pools, steps and ladders to the pool should be secured and locked or removed when the pool is not in use.

• If a child is missing, always look in the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.

• Pool alarms can be used as an added precaution. Look for alarms that meet industry standards including remote alarm receivers if possible so the alarm can be heard inside the house or in other places away from the pool area.

• To prevent body entrapment and hair entrapment/entanglement, have a qualified pool professional inspect the drain suction fittings and covers of your pool and spa to be sure they are the proper size, properly attached, and meet current safety standards. If your pool or spa has a single drain outlet, consider installing a safety vacuum release system that breaks the vacuum to avoid potential entrapment conditions. 

Following simple safety precautions will help prevent a water tragedy and allow you to have a safe, fun filled pool experience. For more pool safety information, you can access internet www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm and www.poolsafetyconsortium.org. For more information on this or any other fire prevention issue, contact the Lisle-Woodridge Fire Prevention Bureau at 630-353-3030.