What You Should Know If You Own A Pool

​Now that school is out for the summer and the temps are heating up, one of the main pastimes to enjoy is swimming.  If you're a pool owner, you already know that having one increases your risk of filing an insurance claim because it's considered an "attractive nuisance."
Accidents can easily happen and can quickly turn tragic without anyone noticing.  (Did you know drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death of children 1-4 years old?)  Here are several tips you may not have thought about to minimize your risk;

• First, understand what your geographic principality considers a "pool."  Factors include overall size  and depth of the water.
• Know the standards, building codes, and insurance requirements for having a pool, including fencing specifications, locks and their location, presence of pool safety equipment, etc.
• Review your liability limits.  It's recommended that pool owners have at LEAST $300,000 and more if you can afford it.
• For additional coverage, consider an umbrella policy to provide additional liability protection.
• Think about the coverage you need for replacement in case your pool is destroyed by some type of disaster.
• If your house forms part of the barrier to the pool, install alarms on doors to prevent little people from accidentally wandering out the door to the pool.

And not to forget common sense safety measures:

• Know who can swim, who can't, and employ appropriate safety measures.
• Designate an experienced swimmer, who knows how to respond to emergencies, as a spotter.
• Keep the pool deck clean and clear of items to reduce the risk of falls.
• Curtail alcohol consumption in the pool area.
• Discourage people being in the pool alone.

 
Remember to periodically review your policy with your local independent insurance agent over time to ensure you're in compliance with local ordinances and maintain appropriate liability coverage..