With Florida’s “Sunshine State” status, it is not unusual that its residents enjoy the luxury of a pool in their backyard.
However, Floridians must be aware of the safety measures needed to have year-round fun in the water.
Florida law requires at least one of the following safety features:
A physical barrier around the pool
An approved safety cover
Alarms on all doors and windows providing access to the pool
A self-closing, self-latching device on doors with access to the pool
According to the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, physical barriers must follow these characteristics:
Must be at least 4 feet high on the outside
May not have any gaps, openings, or structural components that could allow a young child to crawl under, squeeze through, or climb over the barrier
The barrier must be placed around the perimeter of the pool and be separate from any fence or wall surrounding the yard. If the fence or wall is situated on the perimeter of the pool (being used as part of the barrier), it must meet the barrier requirements of this section
The barrier must be placed sufficiently away from the water’s edge to prevent a young child or medically frail elderly person who may have managed to penetrate the barrier from immediately falling into the water
Gates in the barrier, giving access to the pool, must open outward away from the pool and have a self-latching lock mechanism, which must be found on the pool side of the gate so that it can’t be reached by young children.
Visit Florida’s Department of Health Drowning Prevention website for more information about the safety measures for pools in Florida and the danger of drowning for young children.