Pool safety signs are an important safety feature that should be found near every pool. From water safety signs that supply generalized information to more specific signs meant to notify swimmers of important safety equipment, they serve a vital purpose that is too often overlooked. When properly displayed, these signs can help make sure your wet and wild fun doesn’t end in a preventable accident.
Why Signs Are Used
Pool safety signs are an efficient mode of communication. Giving a tour and briefing to every person every time they use your pool isn’t practical (or fun), but posting signs with the relevant information is a simple way to give the safety information needed in an obvious, yet unobtrusive format. Generally, signs fall into 3 main categories:
- Rules – Every pool has rules. From the ubiquitous and kitschy “This is our pool” sign to the standard Pool Rules sign found at most public pools throughout the country, rules signs are meant to convey general advisories about the expected pool use and conduct for friends and family.
- Hazards – Hazard signs advise swimmers of irregular dangers or specific dangerous areas they need to be aware of. Often posted to advise of conditions, situations, or equipment that could cause injury or harm under the wrong circumstances.
- Locations – These water safety signs let people know where important equipment, items, or features can be located. This can help avoid confusion in an emergency situation.
Where Signs Should Be Posted
Pool safety signs should be prominently displayed where they are easily seen. Many people like to post rule signs near the gate of their pool safety fence, that way anyone entering the pool has a chance to see them. Hazard signs and location signs should always be placed in a visible area near the important area they are meant to draw attention too. Signs should be checked regularly to make sure they are still easily read and haven’t been faded by the elements.
Important Pool Safety Signs
While there are many signs available, the right strategy for each pool is unique. A sign needed for one pool may not be needed for another. There are, however, some common signs that have a place in most pool areas.
- The Rules – A general rules sign is always a good idea, as they tend to lay out general advisories based on common sense pool safety. This can help swimmers understand best practices to help keep them safer.
- No Diving (In Shallow End) – Diving into shallow water can result in injury, paralysis, or death. A diver can easily impact the bottom of the pool, causing immediate damage. Many people choose to paint this sign around the pool edge, but then extra care should be taken to ensure it stays clear.
- Exits – In an emergency, low-profile ladders or stairs may be difficult for swimmers to identify quickly. Use contrasting paint or clearly printed water safety sign to help them find their way out of the pool in a hurry.
- First Aid Kit – Every pool area should have a well-stocked first aid kit close at hand that’s ready for everything from bumps and scrapes to CPR. This pool safety sign lets people know immediately where to find it.
- Rescue Equipment – From floatation aids to grab bars, if a swimmer is in distress, others need to know where the life-saving equipment that can help prevent drowning is located.
- Electrical Hazards – Water and electricity don’t mix. Electrical devices and open wires should never be near the pool, but if you have a hazard in the general area, it’s important to mark it clearly. Your guests will need to know to avoid puddles or dripping swimsuits anywhere near it.
- Slip/Fall Hazards – From loose cement to gravel or painted cement that becomes slippery when wet, slips and falls in the pool area can be dangerous. The unforgiving concrete can easily cause lacerations or more severe injuries, and someone who injures himself before slipping into the pool is at immediate risk of drowning injury.
- Mechanical Hazards – If your pool area has machinery, such as an automatic pool cover motor, it should be clearly labeled to avoid pinch injuries from untrained operators attempting to operate it incorrectly.
- Pool Safety Cover Control/Shut-Off – If you have an automatic pool safety cover, make sure the location of the control and any safety shut-offs are known. This can prevent accidental activation which could lead to someone becoming trapped under the water.
- Emergency Pump Shut Off – While modern pools are built with anti-entrapment drain covers, you’ll still want to clearly mark the location of your pump’s control and/or shut-off with a pool safety sign. In the event someone’s body, suit, or equipment becomes trapped by the suction of the pump, it is vital that the shut-off can be activated quickly.
- Pool Feature Controls – If your pool has a slide, ramp, fountain, or other additional feature, add a water safety sign to inform users of its control location. This not only increases safety, but fun, as responsible, experienced swimmers can help you monitor and activate these features as needed.
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Pool safety signs help make safety a priority in your swimming fun. If you have questions about creating a safer pool area with removable safety pool fences or safety pool covers, contact our experts today. Keep your backyard oasis accident-free with A Safe Pool today.
