Keeping Your Family Safe Around Your Pond

Ensuring pond safety is paramount to creating a worry-free environment where both you and your little ones can enjoy the water feature.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, from 2018 – 2022, drownings from ponds, lakes, pools, and other water bodies were the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury death for children 5-14, and more children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause of death.  Every year in the United States, there are over 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths.

Most drowning victims do not reside on the site. And drownings can occur anytime during the year.

The factors that contribute to a drowning death of a child in a pond or lake are the lack of supervision of young children entering the pond or lake, underestimating the curiosity of children with water, and the overestimation of a child's sense of judgment when it comes to them entering the pond or lake. It is essential to always watch children when they are near a pond.

Let's explore some pond safety features that can help prevent drowning victims and provide a secure and serene atmosphere for everyone.

One way to make your pond safe for swimming and to prevent possible drowning deaths is to eliminate all physical hazards. This could include grading slopes for easy entrance, dragging shallow areas for dangerous objects, and roping of unsafe areas. Use markers and signs to identify

Another danger to those swimming in a pond or lake is contamination from fertilizers, pesticides, or algae growth. If the water is cloudy, has a foul odor, or is covered with algae, it should not be used for swimming because of possible human pathogens.

One such pathogen is E. coli bacteria. A pond used for swimming should not have more than 126 colonies of E. coli bacteria per ml of pond water. Any pond where swimming occurs should be regularly tested for E. coli bacteria. Unintentional ingestion of contaminated water due to prolonged exposure can cause gastrointestinal illness, varying in severity. Ponds used for swimming should be tested for E. coli frequently, weekly if possible.

Pond owners should consider restricting the use of the pond to invited guests only. In association with restricted pond availability, the following safety strategies to minimize the dangers would be:

• If possible, install a fence with a locked gate around the pond with the posting of NO TRESPASSING signs,
• Insert a stable yellow rescue post in close proximity to the pond's edge. Outfit the rescue post with the attachments described below.
• Obtain a nylon rope as long as the width of the pond. Secure one end of the rope to a wooden block and the other end to a buoy. (You can make a buoy by filling a gallon milk jug with approximately one pint of water.) Hang the rope and buoy on the rescue post.
• Mount a thin, lightweight 12- to 14-ft. pole (aluminum or PVC) on the rescue post. This pole can be used as a rescue pole for floundering victims.
• Secure a sign at the rescue post that displays pond rules and emergency contact information, including information for calling 911.

Using these pond safety tools can provide a safer space for those enjoying the pond and allow them to create a fun time without worries.