How do you keep people out of your pool?

[stczt]

Thanks for starting this thread, you have given me some things to think about.We are thinking of getting a pool since we are tired of the water parks around here. We have a eletric-fence around the yard and 2 dogs. I'd like to think the odds of getting in my backyard isn't to good.

 

[angwill]

Growing up we had two neighbors with pools and we never asked or expected them to let us in them. When my mother got a new house it had a pool and a neighbor with 3 children and they never asked or expected to come in the pool. Now when I was out there in the pool the youngest neighbor boy and I would have water gun fights with him being in his yard and me in the pool which was a lot of fun. My parents pool had a 4 foot high fence that was attached to the pool rim and the ladder locked up. With the fencing you could put siding slats through it for privacy so nobody could look in the pool and nobody could get in it since it was so high.

 

[manning]

Do what they do on Lake Michigan
put up a huge sign


"HEALTH DEPARTMENT WARNING:

Water Contact May Cause Illness! Bacteria Levels Exceed Health Standards!"

And they still go in!!!

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I'm confused. Your back yards aren't fenced in?

Where I live every house has a back yard that is fenced in. Pools are back there (and you usually don't know who has a pool because the fences are wood planks, not chain link).

 

[Stacerita]

This thread has made me realize - Im just a mean person.

I would have yelled at them by now....but thats me.

Count me in as mean! I would have told them no in a not so nice way. And then if they kept it up, I would have yelled.

 

[Anewman]

Count me in as mean! I would have told them no in a not so nice way. And then if they kept it up, I would have yelled.

I agree its annoying but even I would not have yelled at a five year old...

 

[MomofKatie]

I agree its annoying but even I would not have yelled at a five year old...

I'd let my DH do it- he is known as the "mean old man" of the cul-de-sac, lol (he's only 41). If he sees the neighbor kids on his lawn, in the driveway, or near the fence, he tells them to "go back to your own yard". And it doesn't matter if they are 4 or 16!!

 

[daisax]

I agree its annoying but even I would not have yelled at a five year old...

When they're 5, you take them by the hand, march them back to their house, and tell their Mom you just had the fright of your life, seeing this BABY come over UNATTENDED and THANK GOD you noticed before something TERRIBLE happened.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am sure that these posters were talking about yelling 'in general', at the adults, not a 5 year old.

And, I do not think that a wandering 5 year old is the issue. However, if there were a 5 year old that was ending up on my property (roaming the neighborhood) unaccompanied by a parent or guardian, I would not march the child home. If nobody showed up looking for the child in a matter of minutes, I would be tempted to call CPS.

 

[CathrynRose]

I agree its annoying but even I would not have yelled at a five year old...

I dont mean psychotic yelling - but a nice firm "You need to go home NOW!" isnt going to kill anyone....

 

[Taylor]

It's simple. Dog. Very large dog.

 

[manning]

Just put up sign warning what's in the pool

"beware of cottonmouths"

 

[clarabelle]

It's simple. Dog. Very large dog.

Hmm maybe your dog could start a new service? Rent A Brutus?

 

[Taylor]

Hmm maybe your dog could start a new service? Rent A Brutus?

He works for food. Bring your own shovel for clean up duties.

 

[lillygator]

our pool was put in last year and in our county we are not required to have a fence.

I would tell them to go home or speak with the mom...most everyone around here has a pool and there are not too many young children with nothing to do.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

My parents moved into their home 11 years ago. It came with a large inground pool with a 6 foot chainlink fence with a padlock. Within a week of moving in they had all the neighborhood kids knocking on the door. My parents never once saw an adult.
They told all the kids that if the kids saw my parents swimming in the pool then they were welcome to go get their parents and join them. They did tell them that under no circumstances could they swim without a parent and the hours my parents were in the pool were solely up to my parents.
Not one neighbor has ever come swimming!

Oh and my DM told my dad that if anyone ever jumped the fence then she was having razor wire put on top of the chainlink!

 

[FayeW]

Frankly, it doesn't sound like you need any help keeping them out. The kids asked once, when it was under construction, when they could swim. Doesn't sound to me like they are there everyday asking, or trying to climb the fence. If your mother is concerned that the new pool might be too tempting for a 5 yr old and/or a 2 yr old to resist, she better finish that fence, pronto. Whether your city ordinances require a fence or not, she needs to have it fully fenced for her own peace of mind. ANYBODY could drown in 4ft of water, in the right (or wrong, I should say) circumstances.