City of Diamond Bar

Diamond Bar – A backyard swimming pool can provide hours of summer fun for families, but without proper safety measures in place, it can also pose a danger to young children.

According to statistics kept by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States and approximately one in five people who die from drowning are age 14 and younger.

Also, for every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency care for nonfatal injuries that result in severe brain damage and long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent vegetative state.

To help prevent a pool-related death or injury, backyard pool owners are urged to ensure that they have in place the following layers of protection:

• A self-closing and locking fence enclosing the pool area, clear of ladders or other furniture that can be used by children to climb over.
• A responsible adult with swimming experience and trained in CPR and other lifesaving techniques always supervising children in or near the pool.
• Visible and quickly accessible water rescue equipment, such as a rescue hook pole and life buoy, as well as a list of emergency phone numbers, a wireless phone and CPR instructions.

A three-minute video on pool safety produced by the City in collaboration with the Diamond Bar Sheriff’s Team is available for on demand viewing on the City’s website at www.diamondbarca.gov/videos , and on the City’s official YouTube Page www.youtube.com/diamondbarca by entering “pool safety” into the search channel bar.

To obtain a copy of the City’s fencing standards for installing a new pool or spa, visitwww.diamondbarca.gov/poolstandards or call the Building & Safety Division at 909.839.7020.