AROUND HOME : Safe Pools

THE DROWNING OF a child is the swimming pool owner’s greatest fear. Active toddlers and preschoolers, who mistakenly believe they can swim, are particularly at risk. The fencing around most pools is intended to keep out trespassers. Removable perimeter pool fences and pool covers, though not a substitute for adult supervision, are a wise safety measure.

Fencing is made of poly-coated nylon mesh (it comes in black, which is most transparent, white or beige), which is too fine for a child to climb on. Fences come in 3 1/2- or 4-foot heights, with supporting aluminum poles and gates or points of entry spaced regularly around the perimeter of the fences. Poles are anchored in the decking about two feet from the edge of the pool. A section or two can be opened up or removed to permit access for swimming or maintenance. For parties or special events, the entire fence can be taken down in 15 minutes or less, depending on the size of the pool, and set back up again in about the same amount of time. Typical cost for installation ranges from $1,500 to $2,000.

Manual or motorized safety pool covers provide a horizontal, rather than vertical, barrier to entry. (Consumers should look for covers that meet federal safety standards; other covers can be simply intended to catch debris.) The reinforced vinyl cover slides on a track attached to the decking. Care must be taken, however, to prevent accumulation of water on top of the cover from rainfall. Typical cost ranges from $1,000 to $6,000, depending on the size and shape of the pool and whether the cover is motorized.

Manufacturers and distributors of removable pool fencing and pool covers sell and install their products throughout Southern California. Contact Roll-A-Way Protective Pool Fence Co., (818) 347-2833, (213) 655-7151 or (714) 670-2977; Protect-A-Child Pool Fence Co., (818) 993-7582, (213) 273-2261 or (800) 628-LIVE, and Cover - Pools Inc. at (800) 233-1191.