LONGVIEW, Texas — For most, swimming is a popular option for summer fun, whether it may be at a city pool, an apartment complex or a backyard pool. However, if certain safety measures are neglected, that pool could quickly become a hazard.
"As far as what the city of Longview does, we do inspections at the time of new construction pools," Shawn Hara Longview City Spokesperson said. "When somebody is having one put in place, we make sure that they are putting it in a way that meets code, which includes the electrical and the plumbing and all those safety-related things."
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 350 children under the age of five drown each year nationwide, and a great number of the deaths occurred in residential pools.
"It's just good practice to make sure that you have your property in a safe manner," Hara said. "It's not just for your children, but also neighborhood children or anyone else to make sure that they don't just wander into an unsafe environment."
Drowning is also the leading cause of death for children between the ages of one and four years old, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is a tragic reality that has impacted the regulations in place for private and residential pools at both the state and local levels.
"What our code calls for is fencing to be around a pool area, to make sure that it's not just open access to the pool," Hara said. "You have to have an enclosed pool but then also you have to have a self-closing gate into that area."
Cities like Longview have specific ordinances in place for residential pools, while others like Tyler do not. Longview's ordinance closely mirrors state law. The law states that Texas homeowners must have at least a four-foot high enclosure around a private pool. The barrier cannot be made of chain-link fencing or have gaps or openings greater than four inches wide.
Pool gates must self-close and self-latch, and be capable of being locked by a padlock, a combination lock, a built-in keypad or a key card. Latches should be situated in the upper one-quarter of the gate on the inside to prevent children from opening the barrier easily.
When the wall of a home serves as a boundary, an alarm must also be installed on the doors and windows that open onto the pool area. Texas law requires you to install the alarm operation bypass feature high enough on the wall that it cannot be reached by children.
"Pool safety is very important," Hara said. "Yes, a lot of kids know how to swim, but do you want them out there unattended? You think about some of the terrible things that can happen."
Last year, 3-year-old Arianna Smith died after drowning in the pool of the Lufkin Motel 6 where she and her family were staying. Authorities say she left her family's room and was able to enter the pool area because of a broken gate latch. Police estimated Arianna was underwater for over ten minutes before being discovered.
"Whether if it's a new pool or an old pool, consider having those safety components there around your pool," Hara said.