Wife worried about depth of pond and little grandkids and neighbor kids falling in

[Chumley]

> I would like to weld a rebar
> grid (4-6 inch spacing) together and
> place it on the plant shelf so you couldn't see it really unless you are
> right on top of it. I would make it in sections
> so I could remove it for maintenence. It would satisfy my wife's anxiety
to
> know the grid was there and the water would
> effectively be only 6 inches deep in case one of our grandkids or neighbor
> kids fell in. We have no fence and our yard
> is open to a public greenbelt area which kids use all the time to play. Is
> this a viable alternative? Should I paint it with
> epoxy paint to keep the rusting metal from fouling the water? Would the
> rusting metal harm the fish or plants?
> Sorry for the long post, but I need some help with this one. Thank you
> kindly for time and thoughts.
>
> Chumley

[Michael Lee]

This is a very valid concern. We took our granddaughter to Water Babies so
she would learn how to float if she fell in. When she did, and I think it is
inevitable that they will because a pond is so attractive, she bobbed to the
surface and rolled over on her back, just like she was trained to do. Her
mom snatched her out, she wiped her face and said "I'm never going to do
that again, grandma!" There where not tears, no trama. That moment made it
well worth the cost of the lessons.

You have a major problem with it not being fenced. I think any lawyer would
advise you to fill it in because it is what the legalese call and
"attractive nuisance" and lawsuit fodder.

--
Shalom!
Mike -n- Sue Clymer


"Chumley" > wrote in message
...
> > I would like to weld a rebar
> > grid (4-6 inch spacing) together and
> > place it on the plant shelf so you couldn't see it really unless you are
> > right on top of it. I would make it in sections
> > so I could remove it for maintenence. It would satisfy my wife's anxiety
> to
> > know the grid was there and the water would
> > effectively be only 6 inches deep in case one of our grandkids or
neighbor
> > kids fell in. We have no fence and our yard
> > is open to a public greenbelt area which kids use all the time to play.
Is
> > this a viable alternative? Should I paint it with
> > epoxy paint to keep the rusting metal from fouling the water? Would the
> > rusting metal harm the fish or plants?
> > Sorry for the long post, but I need some help with this one. Thank you
> > kindly for time and thoughts.
> >
> > Chumley
>
>
>

[Janet]

Well being a pool and a pond owner I would suggest talking to your
insurance company. They are really good at knowing what the local laws are
and how to intrepet them. Ours suggested keeping our gate locked to keep our
liability limited in case kids sneaking into the yard.

That said, If it was me, with a yard that wasn't fenced, backing onto a
greenbelt used by kids... I would seriously think about fencing the yard or
fencing the pond itself. It may be the only option for protecting yourself
from a major lawsuit.
Janet in snowy Niagara Falls


"Michael Lee" > wrote in message
...
> This is a very valid concern. We took our granddaughter to Water Babies so
> she would learn how to float if she fell in. When she did, and I think it
is
> inevitable that they will because a pond is so attractive, she bobbed to
the
> surface and rolled over on her back, just like she was trained to do. Her
> mom snatched her out, she wiped her face and said "I'm never going to do
> that again, grandma!" There where not tears, no trama. That moment made it
> well worth the cost of the lessons.
>
> You have a major problem with it not being fenced. I think any lawyer
would
> advise you to fill it in because it is what the legalese call and
> "attractive nuisance" and lawsuit fodder.
>
> --
> Shalom!
> Mike -n- Sue Clymer
>
>
> "Chumley" > wrote in message
> ...
> > > I would like to weld a rebar
> > > grid (4-6 inch spacing) together and
> > > place it on the plant shelf so you couldn't see it really unless you
are
> > > right on top of it. I would make it in sections
> > > so I could remove it for maintenence. It would satisfy my wife's
anxiety
> > to
> > > know the grid was there and the water would
> > > effectively be only 6 inches deep in case one of our grandkids or
> neighbor
> > > kids fell in. We have no fence and our yard
> > > is open to a public greenbelt area which kids use all the time to
play.
> Is
> > > this a viable alternative? Should I paint it with
> > > epoxy paint to keep the rusting metal from fouling the water? Would
the
> > > rusting metal harm the fish or plants?
> > > Sorry for the long post, but I need some help with this one. Thank
you
> > > kindly for time and thoughts.
> > >
> > > Chumley
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[BenignVanilla]

"Michael Lee" > wrote in message
...
> This is a very valid concern. We took our granddaughter to Water Babies so
> she would learn how to float if she fell in. When she did, and I think it
is
> inevitable that they will because a pond is so attractive, she bobbed to
the
> surface and rolled over on her back, just like she was trained to do. Her
> mom snatched her out, she wiped her face and said "I'm never going to do
> that again, grandma!" There where not tears, no trama. That moment made it
> well worth the cost of the lessons.
>
> You have a major problem with it not being fenced. I think any lawyer
would
> advise you to fill it in because it is what the legalese call and
> "attractive nuisance" and lawsuit fodder.
<snip>

We've discussed this problem before, and IMHO there is simply one solution.
Be an active parent, both teaching them the dangers, and in watching them.
When our kids are in the yard, we always keep an eye out. That is part one.
Because even with the best training and ALL of the safety devices, it's a
big puddle of water, and they will find a way to drown in it. Secondly,
education. We have repeatedly beat the dangers of the pond into our
children's rapidly expanding grey matter. They know they should not go near
the pond without an adult nearby. Our 3 year old took a plunge in, one day
while we were working on the pond. That too was good education for him. LOL.

OK, I am rambling....in short...don't rely purely on safety devices. Teach
them and watch them.

BV.
www.iheartmypond.com

[FBCS]

Try this site

http://www.entdirect.plus.com/safapond/


"Chumley" > wrote in message
...
> > I would like to weld a rebar
> > grid (4-6 inch spacing) together and
> > place it on the plant shelf so you couldn't see it really unless you are
> > right on top of it. I would make it in sections
> > so I could remove it for maintenence. It would satisfy my wife's anxiety
> to
> > know the grid was there and the water would
> > effectively be only 6 inches deep in case one of our grandkids or
neighbor
> > kids fell in. We have no fence and our yard
> > is open to a public greenbelt area which kids use all the time to play.
Is
> > this a viable alternative? Should I paint it with
> > epoxy paint to keep the rusting metal from fouling the water? Would the
> > rusting metal harm the fish or plants?
> > Sorry for the long post, but I need some help with this one. Thank you
> > kindly for time and thoughts.
> >
> > Chumley
>
>
>

[John Bachman]

I could not get that link to work. I also went to
www.entdirect.plus.com (slowest download I have ever seen) but could
not find any pond information.

????

John

On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 23:57:28 GMT, "FBCS" > wrote:

>Try this site
>
>http://www.entdirect.plus.com/safapond/
>
>
>"Chumley" > wrote in message
...
>> > I would like to weld a rebar
>> > grid (4-6 inch spacing) together and
>> > place it on the plant shelf so you couldn't see it really unless you are
>> > right on top of it. I would make it in sections
>> > so I could remove it for maintenence. It would satisfy my wife's anxiety
>> to
>> > know the grid was there and the water would
>> > effectively be only 6 inches deep in case one of our grandkids or
>neighbor
>> > kids fell in. We have no fence and our yard
>> > is open to a public greenbelt area which kids use all the time to play.
>Is
>> > this a viable alternative? Should I paint it with
>> > epoxy paint to keep the rusting metal from fouling the water? Would the
>> > rusting metal harm the fish or plants?
>> > Sorry for the long post, but I need some help with this one. Thank you
>> > kindly for time and thoughts.
>> >
>> > Chumley
>>
>>
>>
>

[FBCS]

http://www.entdirect.plus.com/safapond/

I pulled it up with no problem. I had saved it on my favorites in case I
wanted to do this or some DIY of it at a later date. I have a small
grandchild.

Try again

"John Bachman" > wrote in message
...
> I could not get that link to work. I also went to
> www.entdirect.plus.com (slowest download I have ever seen) but could
> not find any pond information.
>
> ????
>
> John
>
> On Tue, 27 Jan 2004 23:57:28 GMT, "FBCS" > wrote:
>
> >Try this site
> >
> >http://www.entdirect.plus.com/safapond/
> >
> >
> >"Chumley" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> > I would like to weld a rebar
> >> > grid (4-6 inch spacing) together and
> >> > place it on the plant shelf so you couldn't see it really unless you
are
> >> > right on top of it. I would make it in sections
> >> > so I could remove it for maintenence. It would satisfy my wife's
anxiety
> >> to
> >> > know the grid was there and the water would
> >> > effectively be only 6 inches deep in case one of our grandkids or
> >neighbor
> >> > kids fell in. We have no fence and our yard
> >> > is open to a public greenbelt area which kids use all the time to
play.
> >Is
> >> > this a viable alternative? Should I paint it with
> >> > epoxy paint to keep the rusting metal from fouling the water? Would
the
> >> > rusting metal harm the fish or plants?
> >> > Sorry for the long post, but I need some help with this one. Thank
you
> >> > kindly for time and thoughts.
> >> >
> >> > Chumley
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
>

[Steven E. Eyrse]

Myself growing up on a lake in Illinois and having various ponds and
children in the last 62 years I have found the best treatment is don't
let the little guys get close to the water if they might fall in. But
if they might fall in and your right there .. Good .. it will teach
them not to fall in any more!

Kreist .. did you ware a fibeglass helmet when you rode your bike?
Did you have knee pads when you locked your skates on with a KEY ?
Did you lose a tooth when you fell down on the gym floor playing dodge
ball ...

Tell your wife and daughter you'll tie a string with a bell on the kid
so if he/she falls in ALL will know ! Then you can go pull them out .
They arn't going to drown in one minute.

Steve E.

>> >> > Sorry for the long post, but I need some help with this one. Thank
>you
>> >> > kindly for time and thoughts.
>> >> >
>> >> > Chumley
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>>
>

[Broomhilda]

We don't have any little kids of our own to worry about but the pond is a
magnet for the neighbor's kids. Inspite of the fact that we live in the
mountains and there are ponds for cattle all over the place, the kids like
to play around ours.

We are not there in winter but find evidence that the kids have been.

So we had to take out a bunch of insurance that we wouldn't need if it
weren't for the pond.


"Steven E. Eyrse" > wrote in message
...
> Myself growing up on a lake in Illinois and having various ponds and
> children in the last 62 years I have found the best treatment is don't
> let the little guys get close to the water if they might fall in. But
> if they might fall in and your right there .. Good .. it will teach
> them not to fall in any more!
>
> Kreist .. did you ware a fibeglass helmet when you rode your bike?
> Did you have knee pads when you locked your skates on with a KEY ?
> Did you lose a tooth when you fell down on the gym floor playing dodge
> ball ...
>
> Tell your wife and daughter you'll tie a string with a bell on the kid
> so if he/she falls in ALL will know ! Then you can go pull them out .
> They arn't going to drown in one minute.
>
> Steve E.
>
> >> >> > Sorry for the long post, but I need some help with this one.
Thank
> >you
> >> >> > kindly for time and thoughts.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Chumley
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >
> >>
> >
>

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

IMHO, a fence is the way to go. A grate might be nice, but a child who
falls and strikes his head on a rock will drown in 3" of water, perhaps
less. With all our techno stuff, scarecrow motion sprinklers, web cams and
you name it, one should get peace of mind in this day an age.... with a
fence to slow them down. ;o) ~ jan

[Janet]

"~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
...
> IMHO, a fence is the way to go. A grate might be nice, but a child who
> falls and strikes his head on a rock will drown in 3" of water, perhaps
> less. With all our techno stuff, scarecrow motion sprinklers, web cams and
> you name it, one should get peace of mind in this day an age.... with a
> fence to slow them down. ;o) ~ jan

I agree Jan. The poster stated that his yard is not fenced and backs onto a
public greenbelt that is used extensively by kids. IMO a fence is the only
way to go, not only from a saftey standpoint but from a liability one as
well.
Janet in snowy Niagara Falls! Brr!