Prevent Drownings In Your Backyard

I come from Phoenix, AZ and everyone has a pool. It gets hot there, like 120 degrees hot. And it cools down to a balmy 100, at night. Aside from the constant ads you see for e-windows and air conditioning servicing, you also hear some of the worst stories possible, a parent losing their child in a swimming pool accident.

Most of these stories center around a parent who turned their back for a few seconds to a few minutes. Sad to say, that is all it takes for a child to fall into a pool and drown.  Everyone who has a pool should take special precautions, even if you don't have kids living with you. You can't forget, friends and members of your family may.

This really hits home, here in Shreveport with the twins that drowned this weekend. This means that it is especially important to prevent accidents with regards to children and swimming pools. A friend of mine decided to look up what Louisiana law requires homeowners with swimming pools to do to help keep neighborhood kids off their property, out of their pools and safe.

It may sound callous, but you have to protect yourself.  So what does the state of Louisiana require? According to KSLA, the City of Bossier abides by the International Swimming Pool Code. That means, chain link fencing is okay as long as it's at least four feet tall and the maximum opening is no more than 1.75 inches. I also found some information regarding the State of Louisiana's rules at ehow.com. Here's what they had to say:

Louisiana Barrier Law

Louisiana State law specifically identifies the types of swimming pools that require barriers around them. Class A swimming pools (for competitions or diving) and Class B walls (exceeding 2.9 feet) have to be enclosed. The barrier can be a "fence, wall, building, enclosure, or solid wall of durable material, according to state code.

Barrier Reqirements

According to the Louisiana Administrative Code, all fences or barriers must not be climbable from the outside of the pool area. There can be no potential foot-holds on the fence exterior. The barrier needs to be built at least 4 feet tall. The gates to the pool area need to be self-closing and self-latching. The latches must not be accessible to children who can't reach more than 3 and 3/4 feet high.

Then there is The Louisiana Administrative Code Title 51, which details requirements for swimming pools in Louisiana.

1. Class A or Class B public swimming pools shall be protected by a fence, wall, building, enclosure, or solid wall of durable material of which the pool itself may be constructed, or any combination thereof. Natural or artificial barriers shall be provided so as to afford no external handholds or footholds, be at least 4 feet in height, and be equipped with a self-closing and positive self-latching closure mechanism at a height of at least 45 inches above the ground and provided with hardware for locking.

The main take away from all of this, put up a fence if you don't have one and put a lock on it.