D& D Technologies
® , inventor and manufacturer of
the MagnaLatch
® Pool Safety Gate Latch and a leader in high-performance gate hardware, is partnering with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance to establish a Check Your Pool Gate Month campaign kicking off on Memorial Day weekend and continuing through the month of June.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children aged 1-4 years, and most swimming pool drowning occurs when children gain access to the pool area because there is no fence or because the fence or gate is faulty.
This initiative is a reminder of the vital need for pool fences, gates, latches and hinges to be secure and in top working order. The pool gate should be checked and maintained regularly to ensure that it self-closes and self-latches at all times; it should not be possible to open a gate at all without activating the release mechanism, which should be out of reach of children The safety checklist for pool gates emphasizes that (1) Gates should open outwards, away from the pool, (2) The height of the latch release mechanism should be at least 54 inches from the bottom of the gate or according to local codes, (3) The gate must be self-closing and self-latching, (4) Hinges should be rust- and bind-free, (5) Hinges should be reliable and tension-adjustable for closing speed, (6) The latch must be adjustable horizontally and vertically to accommodate gate movement, (7) The gate should latch when the latch is in the locked or unlocked position, (8) The latch cannot be disengaged using implements such garden or pool tools, (9) The latch cannot be shaken or jolted open, (10) The gate will shut and latch securely from any open angle or force, and (11) The gate complies with all applicable standards, codes and legislation for pool safety.
To learn more about pool safety and compliance, visit www.us.ddtech.com/pages/pool-safety-compliance and www.ndpa.org. Pool codes may vary, so it is critical to check locally for compliance.
For more information, contact D& D Technologies USA Inc., Dept. SI, 17531 Metzler Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. Telephone 800-716-0888. Online www.ddtechglobal.com.
