A young child can drown quickly and silently, often without any splashing or screaming, in the time it takes to answer the telephone.
Physical barriers designed to limit access to pools provide an important layer of security.
Effective barriers include fences or walls and power safety covers over pools. Fences and walls should be at least four feet high and installed completely around the pool. The latch should be out of a small child's reach. If your house forms one side of the barrier for the pool, then doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with alarms that produce an audible sound when a door is unexpectedly opened. A power safety cover, a motor powered barrier that can be placed over the water area, can be used as an alternative to door alarms.