Having a swimming pool is a great way to play and exercise with the kids. Fun time can easily turn to tragedy if you’re not careful. How could that happen? Swimming pools kill hundreds of kids yearly. Below Ground Pool Kit

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in the home of children under five years old. Every year, over 300 children under five drown in residential swimming pools, often in a pool owned by their family.

“In addition, more than 2,000 children in that age group are treated in hospital emergency rooms for submersion injures. Medical costs for submersion victims during the initial hospitalization alone can be quite high. Costs can range from an estimated $2,000 for a victim who recovers fully to $80,000 for a victim with severe brain damage. Some severely brain damaged victims have initial hospital stays in excess of 120 days and expenses in excess of $150,000,” the CPSC revealed.

Seventy-five percent of submersion victims were children between one and three years old and 65 percent were boys. This occurred in spite of the fact that the victims were “supervised” by one or both parents.

“Submersion incidents involving children usually happen in familiar surroundings. Sixty-five percent of the incidents happened in a pool owned by the child's family and 33 percent of the incidents happened in a pool owned by friends or relatives,” according to the CPSC.

“Pool submersions involving children happen quickly. A child can drown in the time it takes to answer a phone. Seventy-seven percent of the victims had been missing from sight for five minutes or less. Survival depends on rescuing the child quickly and restarting the breathing process, even while the child is still in the water. Seconds count in preventing death or brain damage,” they added.

By putting a fence around your pool, you help prevent drowning at your home. A new fence can provide safety for your kids in the event they are unsupervised. This way you have time to answer the phone or let you kids play outside with out your constant supervision.

“Install a four-sided, isolation pool fence that completely separates the house and play area of the yard from the pool area. The fence should be at least four feet high. Use self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward with latches that are out of reach of children.” said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A good source of pool safety fences and other swimming pool supplies at competitive prices is 1800pools.com. This site carries everything from life jackets, safety ropes, first aid and life guard supplies as well as pool and spa parts and supplies. Enjoy your pool all summer and all year with pool accessories and toys from this great site. Swimming Pool Accessories