City of Kitchener

Backyard Pool Safety

Daytime segment courtesy of Rogers TV

The Facts

  • Drowning is the second leading cause of preventable deaths in Canada among children under 10 years of age.
  • Approximately 30 Canadians die in backyard pools every year.
  • Children under 5 years of age are most at risk of drowning in backyard pools. Most drownings of children occur when the caregiver is not paying attention, even for a second.
  • Adults are also at risk! Adult drownings usually occur when the adult goes for a swim alone.

Most drownings are preventable!

Backyard Pool Rules and Checklist

Here are rules for your backyard pool that you can download, print and post to help keep everyone safe. We also have pool safety checklists for kids and adults.

Backyard pools require adult supervision

Whenever the backyard pool is in use, designate one adult to be responsible for supervising swimmers in the pool and around the pool deck. This adult's primary responsibility is accident prevention.

The supervising adult should be trained in basic water rescue and first aid knowledge, including how to call 911 during an emergency. The Lifesaving Society recommends a minimum of Bronze Cross and Standard First Aid certification for all backyard pool supervisors.

If you're not within arms reach, you've gone too far

  • Children require additional supervision around the water.
  • Children who are non-swimmers need to be accompanied into the pool by an adult and kept within arms reach at all times.
  • Never leave a swimmer unattended, even for a minute. Drowning can occur in as little as 10 seconds. A lapse in supervision for only a few seconds can lead to tragedy. Most drowning victims cannot call out or wave for help.

Equipment is not a substitute for adult supervision

Lifejackets, waterwings, pool noodles and other pool toys do not ensure the safety of swimmers. They are not a substitute for adult supervision.

PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) may be used in the pool to provide additional safety for non-swimmers. These approved flotation devices should be used in conjunction with adult supervision.

Never leave pool toys floating in the pool when the pool is not in use. Children can easily fall into the water when reaching for these toys from the pool deck.

Important backyard pool equipment

Every backyard pool should have the following items on the deck:

  • Telephone and emergency phone numbers
  • First Aid Kit
  • Whistle or other sound signaling device
  • Reaching pole
  • Ring buoy
  • Buoy line between shallow and deep end of pool
  • Sunscreen
  • Pool chemicals stored in a secure location.

All equipment should be checked frequently to ensure it is in good working condition.

Is your pool fence safe?

The City of Kitchener has by-laws to keep your backyard pool safe:

  • All swimming pools that are designed to hold a minimum of 88.9 cm (36 inches) of water must be enclosed with a fence that is a minimum of 1.5 metres (5 feet) in height.
  • All gates and doors opening into the swimming pool or the pool area, must be equipped with locking devices and kept locked, unless a responsible adult is present and supervising the swimming pool.
  • For additional protection, backyard pools should be enclosed with an additional fence around all four sides of the pool to prevent direct access to the pool from the house.

For more information about City of Kitchener Permit Requirements for Backyard Pools, contact the Building Division: 519-741-2312.

Safety policies

Develop safety policies for your pool and make sure these rules are followed at all times. Some important safety policies include:

  • Never swim alone. Even strong swimmers need to swim with a buddy.
  • Alcohol and swimming don't mix. Alcohol is involved in over one-third of all preventable water-related deaths in Canada.
  • Never swim during a thunderstorm.
  • Never use the pool when you cannot see the bottom of the entire pool.
  • Jump, don't dive into shallow water. No one should ever dive into an above ground pool.
  • Always walk on the pool deck, don't run.
  • Swim only during daylight hours.

Kitchener Public LIbrary resources

The Kitchener Public Library branches have two excellent resources to provide you with more information to keep your backyard pool safe.

  • Within Arms' Reach - This DVD features figure skater Barbara Underhill who lost her 8 month old child in a backyard pool tragedy. In the 11 minute video, Barbara shares her insights with backyard pool owners who have children.
  • The Lifesaving Society's Backyard Pool Safety Guidelines provides in-depth information on keeping your backyard pool safe. The guidelines focus on the drowning problem, prevention and supervision of backyard pools.

Take a swimming or lifesaving course

It's never too early or late to Learn to Swim! The City of Kitchener offers the courses in swimming, first aid and water rescue.

Course schedules are available in Leisure. Register for all courses in person at City of Kitchener pools or online using WEBReg.

Learn more