Airbnb Launches Pool Safety Campaign Ahead Of Summer

Pool gate discounts

Fostering a safe environment for family fun, Airbnb has partnered with trusted experts to educate its Hosts and guests about potential safety risks. One of the main objectives of this campaign is to help Hosts acquire pool fences and educate them on customized pool safety guidance and guidelines.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the national public health agency of the United States, has established that pool fences reduce a child’s risk of drowning by 83%. Airbnb recognizes this data and is providing its Host community with easy and affordable access to these potentially life-saving features.

The top-rated pool fence manufacturer Life Saver Pool Fence is giving away a special offer, including discounts on pool gates and professional installation, to select Airbnb Hosts in the US. Airbnb is set to disseminate these rare rebates to US-based Hosts who have specified pools in their listings.

Pool safety tips

In a seeming preparation for this nationwide summer campaign, Airbnb collaborated with the Florida Department of Children and Families last February for a pool safety campaign for its Host community in Florida. The home rental company now extends the reach of this campaign, in partnership with Safe Kids Worldwide (Safe Kids), and will be rolling out tailored pool safety guidance to US-based Hosts whose listings come with pools.

A pioneer member of Airbnb’s new Trust & Safety Advisory Coalition, Safe Kids has developed pool safety tips that intend to benefit the Airbnb community and vacation rental Hosts. Airbnb and Safe Kids will be working closely until the end of 2022 to ensure that the message of safety precautions, education, and guidance is promoted properly to US Hosts and guests.

These specially curated tips from Safe Kids will be communicated to US Hosts with listings described as single-family homes with pools:

• An isolation pool fence at least 4 feet (1.2 meters) high with a self-closing and self-latching gate should be installed. It should also cover the entire perimeter of the pool.
• Access points that a toddler could easily skip over or slip through, such as doggie doors, should be secured. Alarms on all windows and doors leading to the pool area should also be included.
• Anti-entrapment drain covers and safety release systems should be placed as a safeguard against drain entrapment.
• Rescue equipment, namely shepherd crooks, ring buoys, reaching poles, and first aid kits, should be provided. Adding a landline phone to the pool area should also be considered.
• A “Water Watcher” card with instructions on use should be provided. Safe Kids has a free Water Watcher card on their website.
• Proper maintenance of the pool including water clarity, routine maintenance, and chemical balance, as well as the presence of safety equipment, should be verified before every guest.
• The “welcome materials” and website copy should indicate which pool safety features are available and unavailable. (e.g. “The pool of this property is not equipped with a four-sided isolation fence so extra precaution is necessary.”)
• Signages or brochures indicating all safety tips, warnings, 911 emergency information, CPR instructions, and the Airbnb address should be provided. Walk-throughs on the pool area and its corresponding safety features, pool fence, drain cover, and alarms are encouraged for every guest including the kids.
• Flotation devices do not prevent drowning and the practice of touch supervision with non or weak swimmers should be reminded to guests. In case of a missing child, remind guests to “check the pool first.”
• Safe Kids Worldwide pool safety checklist and other educational resources on swim safety and tips should be shared.

Safe and fun pool encounters all summer long

These tips from Safe Kids may not fully guarantee any child’s safety but Airbnb hopes that this set of guidelines will help the US Hosts provide safe and secure experiences. Aside from this pool safety push, Airbnb is also reinforcing its measures against unauthorized parties correlated with the summer season. For its anti-party crackdown and ongoing party ban, the company is implementing booking restrictions for guests without a history of positive reviews over the Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends.

Whether to simply welcome the season or have an annual escapade with the family, you can experience the joy of summertime through sparkling moments in the swimming pool, all while having a safe vacation in an Airbnb home. Start the season off with these pool safety guidelines and keep the fun going all summer long.