A Homeowner's Responsibility in Owning a Swimming Pool
A swimming pool in your yard may seem like a luxury, but in fact it may represent one of the biggest legal and financial risks associated with your home. The risks of accidental drowning are very real, and your moral and legal liabilities are clear. Homeowners who own a pool must take the responsibility seriously.
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Ownership
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If you are the owner of the pool, you are the person who has the responsibility for the safety of your family, your guests and even trespassers you have not invited onto your property. If you do not take reasonable measures to ensure that the pool is secure, you open yourself to the possibility of a liability lawsuit in the event of an injury or a drowning death.
Physical Safety
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Most insurance policies and many town ordinances require that private pools be fenced with barriers that are at least 4 feet high and completely surround the pool. The gates in the fence should be self closing and securely latched, and the latches should not be accessible to children. Invest in a pool cover that can be in place whenever the pool is not in use. You can also purchase a pool alarm that you can set to sound if the water is disturbed.
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Supervision
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You or another adult you trust should personally supervise pool use, and you should insist that adult guests be present whenever their children use the pool. You and other adult members of your household should be trained in CPR, so that you have the necessary emergency skills in case of an accident, and you should ensure that you have lifesaving equipment within easy reach of the pool. Hosting a party around your pool can be enjoyable, but you should ensure that anyone who is drunk is not allowed inside the pool fence.
Insurance
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Your homeowners insurance must cover the fact that you have a private pool. You should ensure that you have a minimum of $1 million in accident coverage associated with the pool in your policy and possibly even more. Even if you post warning signs near your pool, or advise guests that they swim at their own risk, you still remain legally liable for their safety, and your insurance cover should reflect this.
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References
- Photo Credit Swimming pool and pool house image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
