Practically every Florida homeowner has a swimming pool. Seriously, almost half of them... And those who don't own pools have friends who do. Makes me contemplate the validity of friendship in the Sunshine State, that's for darn sure!

On a more serious note, swimming pool safety is nothing to take lightly. Did you know that Florida has held the highest rate of swimming-pool-related deaths since 1999? A lack of sufficient swimming pool barriers was the cause of death in most cases.

These tragedies were entirely preventable. If you are contemplating putting in a swimming pool in the state of Florida, please read the following regulations regarding swimming pool barriers:

1) A residential swimming pool barrier needs to be 4 ft. tall or higher. This includes railing and fencing.

2) Barriers cannot be positioned near, or attached to, a permanent structure that can be climbed.

3) Openings or gaps within barriers must be large enough so that a child can not crawl through them.

4) Barriers must be placed far enough away from the water, so that a child or elderly person would not fall in if, in fact, he or she manages to squeeze through the barrier from the outside.

5) Gates must open away from the water, in other words, outwardly.

6) The gate latch must be positioned high enough so that a small child can not reach it.

7) The release mechanism on all locks must be placed on the inside of the pool gate, so that it faces the water.

Of course, these regulations change from year to year, so check with your municipality for swimming pool barrier regulation updates.

FOR THE COMPLETE ARTICLE ON SWIMMING POOL BARRIER REGULATIONS IN FLORIDA