Pool Safety

[amylucinda]

We're looking at renting a 4 bedroom, one in Oak Island Harbor or one in Indian Creek (actually from someone here...can I say that?)

Being the cautious mom of the times, I'm a tad concerned about the pool, having an almost 4 year old and a 6 year old, for whom this will be a new experience. I do know there are FL laws about having the door alarmed.

1) Does that apply to all doors that lead to the pool, even master bedroom doors?

2) Do the doors have automatic closing mechanisms, so if someone goes out, the door closes behind them?

3) How do you open the door?

4) How do you lock the door? Can you make it childproof?

(I know..I need to email my specific owners but for the moment, I'm kinda looking for generalities...)

Thanks in advance.

[huckleberry house]

Hi Amy
Welcome to the forums.

It is quite hard to generalise but I will do my best.

Firstly the law to have pool alarms fitted doesnt necessarily relate to all homes as when it was introduced it wasnt retrospective and didnt cover all short term rental areas so some homes built before it came into affect ( around 2000/2001 )wont necessarily have them and some homes may have the " switchoffable " types whereby the guest can legally switch them off.Also for a lot of recent homes there is now a choice between pool door alarms or a childproof fence closing off access to the pool.
Bearing that in mind :
1) If the house does have to have alarms then it will apply to all doors that lead to the pool area including master bedroom etc.
2)No I have never heard of automatic closers.
3) The doors are generally very similar to patio doors we have here so will have a slider type lock and many may also have a secondary locking bar that lifts up to stop the sliding door opening.
4)Covered in 3 really.
As you say it really would be best to contact the owners you have shortlisted as one of the advantages of renting direct is the personal contact with the owner enabling you to ensure all your requirements are met.

Lesley

Hi Amy,

I am paranoid mum of 5 ages ranging from 3 to 20, we have been going to villas with pools for 20 years so I know how you feel, keep all doors looked when inside the villa and alarms on and have a rull that no child goes out to the pool without and adult present, sit the children down and tell them the rules, also you can get body suits with built in floats from Walmart.

You will be fine and have a great holiday!![msnwink]

[Nostromo]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by amylucinda
We're looking at renting a 4 bedroom, one in Oak Island Harbor or one in Indian Creek (actually from someone here...can I say that?)
[/quote]

Hi Amy. I am sure that a lot of others will reassure you about the pool, but regards the villa itself, the owners are not allowed to respond to queries via these forums. You have to post your requirement through the specific area provided on the OV main page. All the best.

[LiesaAnna]

the villa we stayed in twice, had the alarms on the window that leads out to the pool, not a full length door but normal window, believe me when the door is opened and the alarm goes off it shrills!!!!! everyone will hear it!! was so impressed with this when we first went but luckily lauren was 7 going on 15 then so knew not to open the doors, but this year we staying at Terra Verde, and the villa has the fencing that goes accross which will be so much better for us as we're taking grandson who will be 21 months!!!! a handfull and very fast now!!! and hes not even walking yet!!!!
have a great time!!

[linda allen]

I know how you feel, our two boys have both fallen into the pool on several occasions. Luckily we were there at all times.
We are so worried about this that we have added a removeable pool fence to our unbuilt villa as well as door alarms.
Another tip is that when they are around the pool area always make them ware arm bands. This hepled last year when our 2 year old decided he was going to jump into the pool after his Daddy.
Our 4 year old is now taking swimming lessons.

[Calamity Jane]

Hi Amy

After 3 children and two grandchildren I have always treated my villas the same way as I would if I lived on a very busy main road, the doors are locked at all times whether alarmed or not, plus all children should be supervised if a non swimmer (or even a very young swimmer). Our villas have two locks plus security bars to stop the doors sliding across.

The majority of private owners will have provided some measure of a safety system as regards the pool area, but ultimately it is down to parents to keep a watchful eye on their children. I used body suits ( with floats in them ) when the grandkids were very young and before they could swim, they are aged 4 & 6 and they can both swim now but we constantly kept a tight rein on them before this.

I also have never heard of automatic doors in a villa

[Jill]

As a parent I know how you feel about children and swimming pools as they can be a cause for anxiety as accidents do happen. As stated by Nostromo villa owners cannot respond to specific requests for their villas on the forum but if you make a request for a villa on one of the sites listed asking about pool safety http://orlandovillas.com/ http://www.villasflorida.com/ and http://www.onlinefloridavillas.com/ then owners will be very happy to let you know what pool safety measures they have in place as well and answer any other questions you might have.

[Robert5988]

The major concern is obviously unsupervised toddlers falling into the pool.

However in my experience a more frequent scenario is ‘horseplay’ by youngsters(and inebriated adults) causing minor injuries.

The house rules usually ban glass containers from the pool area – well worth sticking rigidly to that one.

[Jill]

We had owned our villa for less than 2 hours when our two teenagers (old enough to know better) went outside to play with ball across the pool. They assured me they would be carefully and not fall in. Never believe a teenager within 5 minutes they younger one had fallen in fully clothed.

If you are worried about glass on the patio area when making an enquiry ask if owners provide separate non breakable glassware etc for use outside.