Swimming Pool Safety Nets vs. Pool fencing

If you own a pool it is essential that you have some safety measures or deterrents in place.
Let me try and help you with your decision on what safety device to put in place.

Let me tell you a story:
My youngest nephew, Samuel, is a three year old. Like most three year olds he is very busy, extremely curious and capable of things that you would not expect.
About three weeks ago he was playing with a ball in the front garden when his ball bounced over the gate and into the street. My sister (Jacqui) was in the kitchen with a window that overlooks the scene. She describes it like this:
"I was watching Samuel play in the front garden, preparing some lunch for him and his sister. I looked down at my work for a few seconds and looked up. He was not in the front garden anymore. I was not overly concerned about this, as it is a large garden with very few hazards. The gate is locked, the pool is fenced in and there is no standing water any where.
After a few minutes I saw Samuel at the front gate, fiddling with the lock. I watched for a while and then noticed that the padlock was on the ground next to him. He was starting to tug at the gate!"

What had happened is that Samuel had gone inside, pulled a chair closer to the key rack, selected the correct key from all the keys on the rack, gone outside and opened the padlock that was securing the gate and started opening the gate!
When Jacqui got to him the gate was already slightly opened. When asked what he was doing, he simply replied, "fetching my ball".

The point is, we underestimate how smart our small children are, we are lulled into a false sense of security, relying on our gates and locks to do the job. The fact is, if you can think of a way to breach your safety barriers, chances are so can your child!

This brings me to the Pool safety net vs Fencing. As is clearly illustrated by the story of Samuel, a fence does offer some protection, but is not, by any means impenetrable by a child!
A safety net on the other hand, is much more secure. To remove a net you need to exert a force greater than that of what a child is capable. The only way for a child to remove a net is to cut the net. I believe that in this instance, the knife is the immediate danger, and not the pool!

Whatever safety measure you decide on. Please know that there is no substitute for supervision.

Enjoy the World cup South Africans! And keep safe!

For more info on Pool Safety Nets go to www.poolsafetynet.co.za.