Designing a residential pool that is as safe as possible but at the same time is an asset to the landscape requires planning and creative thinking. Aside from the better-known safety requirements per local building departments, there are also some lesser-known design ideas that will make pools safer and at the same time very attractive. These design techniques are not as well publicized but should also be considered when building a new pool.
Diligent supervision of swimming pool activity is the best safety measure, but short of employing a full-time lifeguard, the supervision is usually by an adult who is also enjoying the pool and the environment. The challenge is to make it easy and pleasant for the responsible adults to be in or near the water in order to keep a watchful eye on the younger children and the swimming pool activity.
It is very important to create comfortable, convenient entertainment space and patio areas to make it easy and pleasant for responsible adults to remain on duty. As the angle of the sun, or the direction of the wind changes during the day, different areas of the yard will be more comfortable than others. It is best if several entertainment locations are available and all of them should have a good view of the pool.
Kids are usually in, out and back into the water continuously. The sun or the cold does not bother them when they are having fun but can get very tiresome for adults. Bear in mind that adults often want to be near the water, but not in it when they are on kid watch.
The layout and location of the different design components common to residential pools, such as the decking, the deep water, or waterfalls and dive rocks should be carefully considered. In fact, the pool itself should ideally be located so that it can be clearly seen from inside the primary living areas of the home.
Pool decking and patios are best when they are not a perimeter completely around the edge of the pool. Perimeter decking promotes running, or even racing around the pool, usually near the water. It is better to include some planter beds adjacent to the water, so that the pool decking does not completely encircle the pool. These planter areas between the pool deck and the water will direct traffic to the specific entrance and exit locations that are safe. For example, kids normally dive or jump into the pool and then take the fastest most convenient route out of the water and hurry back to dive in again. Carefully considering this traffic pattern from a safety standpoint when designing the pool will help to minimize a possible safety hazard.
Shallow beach areas strategically located are another design element that can impact the overall safety of a swimming pool. Shallow beaches are an area of the pool (maybe 8’x10’) that is about ½ as deep as the typical shallow end of the pool, or about 18” deep. These shallow shelves are ideal places for toddlers and attending adults to enjoy the pool and separate themselves from the high activity areas where the big kids play. Keep in mind the adults attending the little guys will often oversee the overall supervision of the pool, so the beach should include or be near the creature comforts mentioned before, such as shade. An easy, convenient way to keep a part of a shallow beach area out of direct sunlight is to include built-in portable umbrellas near or even in the beach. An additional shallow beach adjacent to the diving area in the deeper water will serve as a rest area and is a safe, controlled exit point from the pool after diving.
Landscape can also influence swimming pool safety by directing foot traffic and concentrate activity where adults can supervise the pool activity. The placement of shade trees, lawn areas and dense shrubbery will influence where and how pool side play takes place. Although the landscape is normally designed to complement the swimming pool and increase the overall beauty and atmosphere of the yard, both objectives can be achieved with some thought about how the plants will develop and grow.
Shade, wind breaks, visibility and traffic patterns are all factors to consider when planning the landscape.
The safety of smaller children is every parent’s concern when they play around water, but the potential for accidents can be minimized with proper pool design and supervision.
Natural Design Swimming Holes has years of experience designing attractive and safe residential swimming pools.
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