Staying Safe Around the Pool: Quick Guide

Pool season may be winding down in some parts of the country, but indoor pools are a great way to enjoy some family fun any time of year—and the warmer states keep their outdoor pools going through the winter. With that in mind, it’s never a bad time to brush up on pool safety, especially if you have young children enjoying the water for the first (or second, or even fiftieth) time.

Ensuring the safety of everyone in and around the pool is essential to preventing accidents and illnesses. By adhering to established safety guidelines, staying vigilant, and properly equipping your pool area, you can maintain a safe and healthy environment for all swimmers.

Here’s a breakdown of some pool safety essentials:

Supervise children

Active, uninterrupted supervision is the most critical step in preventing water-related accidents.

Always maintain a direct line of sight when children are in or near a swimming pool. Designate a responsible adult as a “water watcher” whose sole task is to monitor the water, free from distractions such as reading, socializing, or using a smartphone.

Keep inexperienced swimmers and young children within arm’s reach of a capable adult at all times. Never assume someone else is watching the kids: explicit assignment of responsibility is key to avoid gaps in supervision.

Layers of protection

Having physical barriers around your family pool is one of the most effective ways to prevent unauthorized or unsupervised access.

Install a fence at least four feet high, completely enclosing the pool and separating it from the house and the rest of the yard
Utilize self-closing and self-latching gates, ensuring the latch is placed high enough to be completely out of a young child’s reach
Routinely inspect your barriers to ensure there are no gaps under the fence or handholds a child could use to climb over
Clear the pool area of toys and floats when the pool is not in use so children aren’t tempted to enter the water
Pool alarms offer an additional layer of protection: these alarms can detect movement in the water, alerting you to a potential emergency, especially if someone enters the pool unsupervised

Avoid entrapments

It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but with young children and pets, pool drains and suction outlets can also be dangerous. They generate surprisingly powerful forces that can trap smaller swimmers underwater.

Educate children to never play near, sit on, or swim around pool drains and suction fittings. Make sure all pools and spas are equipped with compliant, anti-entrapment drain covers as mandated by the Pool and Spa Safety Act.

Instruct swimmers to keep long hair tied up and to avoid wearing loose jewelry or baggy swimsuits that could get sucked into a drain. Familiarize yourself with the location of the emergency pump shut-off switch before entering any pool or spa.

Essential safety equipment

Keeping the proper rescue and safety gear readily available is critical in the event of a poolside emergency. If you’re swimming at home, invest in reaching and throwing equipment such as a life ring (ring buoy) with an attached throw rope and a shepherd’s crook (reaching pole). Make sure these items are easily accessible.

Maintain a fully stocked first-aid kit near the pool to address minor scrapes, cuts, and other injuries immediately. If you’re visiting a resort pool or public pool, a small first-aid kit in your bag is a good idea, too.

Always keep a charged cell phone nearby so you can quickly dial emergency services without leaving the pool area. Ensure that everyone in the household knows exactly where the safety equipment is stored and how to use it properly.

Know life-saving skills

Being prepared to act swiftly and correctly in an emergency can save a life. Learn CPR for adults, children, and infants, and make sure to renew your certification regularly.

Understand basic water-rescue techniques so you can safely assist someone in distress without putting your own life at risk. Enroll yourself and your children in formal, age-appropriate swimming lessons to ensure everyone is comfortable, capable, and confident in the water.

Germs and illnesses

If not properly maintained, swimming pools can harbor germs that cause illness. While public pools and resort pools maintain their facilities according to strict health codes and regulations, if you have your own pool at home, keeping the water properly treated is an important responsibility.

It may sound obvious, but we’ll say it anyway: Do not swim if you are experiencing diarrhea, and keep children out of the water if they’re ill. Practice good hygiene by showering before entering the pool and encouraging frequent bathroom breaks.

Avoid swallowing pool water to greatly reduce the risk of contracting recreational water illnesses. If you own a pool, regularly test the water’s chemical balance to ensure chlorine and pH levels are in the appropriate range to effectively kill harmful bacteria.

Avoid injuries and accidents

Setting and enforcing clear behavioral guidelines helps prevent slips, falls, and diving injuries. Walk carefully on the pool deck at all times; never run, and advise your children accordingly. Do not dive into shallow water or above-ground pools: diving should be strictly reserved for designated deep areas.

If you have your own pool, post a sign that clearly states the pool rules so that all guests and family members know exactly what’s expected of them. Prohibit roughhousing, dunking, or holding breath underwater for extended periods.

Pet pool safety

Your furry friends need specific protection around the swimming pool. Never assume your pet naturally knows how to swim; many animals struggle in the water and can benefit from a gradual introduction or even swimming lessons.

Equip your pet with a well-fitted animal life jacket to keep them safe and buoyant. Show your pet exactly where and how to exit the pool, training them to use the stairs or installing a specialized pet-safe ladder or ramp. It can help to learn pet CPR and be aware of the signs of heatstroke, which can occur even when pets are playing in the water.

Lastly, provide plenty of fresh drinking water nearby so pets aren’t tempted to hydrate using chemically-treated pool water. Always rinse your pet off after a swim to wash away chlorine and other chemicals from their fur and skin.

Additional pool safety resources

Swimming safety resources

Sources cited

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2019). Prevention of drowning. Pediatrics, 143(5), e20190850. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/143/5/e20190850/37134/Prevention-of-Drowning

American Animal Hospital Association. (2026). Water safety tips for dogs: Pools, lakes, beaches and boats. https://www.aaha.org/resources/dive-into-safety-water-safety-tips-for-pets/

American Red Cross. (n.d.). Water safety certification & tips. https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/swimming/water-safety

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025a). Guidelines for keeping your pool safe and healthy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/safety/what-you-can-do-to-stay-healthy-in-swimming-pools.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025b). Preventing drowning. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/prevention/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2026). Home pool and hot tub water treatment and testing. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/about/home-pool-and-hot-tub-water-treatment-and-testing.html

Chewy. (2025). Dogs in swimming pools: 8 safety tips. https://www.chewy.com/education/dog/health-and-wellness/dog-swimming-pool-safety-tips

Federal Register. (2019). Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act; incorporation by reference of successor standard. National Archives and Records Administration. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/05/24/2019-10845/virginia-graeme-baker-pool-and-spa-safety-act-incorporation-by-reference-of-successor-standard

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (n.d.). Safety barrier guidelines for residential pools: Preventing child drownings. https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/blk_media_SafetyBarrierGuidelinesResPools.pdf

Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, Pub. L. No. 110-140, 121 Stat. 1794 (2007). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Graeme_Baker_Pool_and_Spa_Safety_Act