Your swimming pool installed and now comes the fun part – the installation of a diving board and slide. They certainly can be fun, but you have to practice caution and follow some safety rules.
A lot of people view a diving board as simply an add-on to the pool fun, but diving boards are the cause of many a backyard mishap. It should be routine for your swimming pool builder or service professional to check that your diving board is secure and in safe operating order. He or she will ensure that none of the hardware has become loose and that there are no cracks in the foundation securing the diving board.
As with all swimming pool safety, make certain children who use the diving board and the swimming pool are supervised at all times. Use extreme caution – or avoid the swimming pool altogether — if you’re drinking alcohol.
Here are diving board safety tips from the Hawaiian Pool Builders:
- Use diving boards the way they are intended – one person at a time, making certain the water is deep enough for diving.
- Never dive – or swim – alone.
- Stay out from under the board when someone is on it.
- Know the weight limits of the diving board.
- Make sure when you jump away from the board that you jump far enough away so you don’t hit your head.
- Don’t run on the board – it can be slippery, and a fall on or off a diving board can result in serious injury.
- Don’t dive from the board if the pool is crowded with swimmers.
Pool slides are also a fun way to accessorize your pool. They do require specific height and space requirements to be used safely.
Here are our slide safety tips:
- As with diving – never use the slide alone. Make certain the slide has been installed to manufacturer specs.
- Have a routine maintenance schedule to make certain pool is secure.
- Know the weight limits of the pool slide.
- Only one person at a time should be going down the slide.
- To avoid head and neck injury, always go down the slide feet first.
- Keep the slide wet, especially on hot days to prevent burns.
Having a swimming pool in your backyard in Ohio is a great, fun addition to your backyard and as with anything your family undertakes, do it safely; and we urge you to employ some simple common sense.
