Hi, Mamas!
Coming to you mom-experts again for a safety question. I lay awake at night terrified of our pool. We have a gate that blocks off our house/patio from the pool- but that just isn't enough for me. I don't really want one of those huge gates all around the pool, but want to take more saftey measures with 2 young kids at home. Have any of you used the pool alarm systems - where an alarm inside the house goes off if something breaks the surface of the water (or any other type of pool security)? Just need to know what works/what doesn't...what have you tried that you really liked?? THANKS SO MUCH!
My mom recently installed a pool cover on her pool that she keeps on anytime they are not in the pool. The cover is stronging enough to hold upwards of 400+ pounds on top of it (so the kids actually think its fun to jump on like a trampoline) and does usually take two people to get it off but its worth it. Email me if you like and I can get you more info.
Radio Shack and Leslie Pool Supply has interior door alarms that are very loud, but effective, and easy to install. The alarm is powered with batteries. Also, make sure that the gate between the patio/house and pool is self closing/self latching and opens away from the pool; this makes it a little more difficult to pull open if there is a tight spring hinge to keep it closed and latched. Pool covers that can be mechanical, or manual retract are also another option.
I know you said you didn't want to put a fence around the pool itself. I have to say, we have one and love it. At first I thought it would be a huge eyesore...take the prettiness away from the pool. It doesn't at all, and we feel safe enough to let our 4 & 3 yr old go out in the backyard without us for short periods of times. PM me if you would like to see pictures.
We tried two different ones. they have better one out now, but the ones we tried eight years ago died in the rain. I would look into alarms that sound when the back doors open. We just had terrible luck getting the darm things to work right. We ened up with nothing but I was very lucky with my son, he was not wanderer and did not care for the pool for quite sometime.
I kept him in swim classes till he was swimming. I was more nervous when friends kids came over because they seemed to be obssed with the pool.
