With the unofficial start of summer here, more residents will be spending time outdoors, looking for various ways to enjoy the sunshine and warmer temperatures. Year-after-year, the two most popular activities for residents include swimming and barbecuing.
The warm weather also brings a host of added responsibilities for property managers and staff alike as they work to ensure that their residents stay safe while they’re having fun outdoors. Here are just a few things that managers can do in preparation for a stress-free summer:
· Make sure that the pool and spa is kept clean and disinfected at all times. If there is any reason why they have not been disinfected, it’s important that the pool and/or spa remain off-limits to residents until it is safe to enter.
· Ensure that all safety barriers and fences that surround the pool remain tight and impenetrable at all times. Every summer, there are unfortunate accidents involving small children that are able to gain access to the pool area through an open gate or unlocked door. Don’t allow your property to become an unfortunate statistic. Make sure those barriers are in place and stay in place throughout the summer and all year round.
· Inspect pool-related safety equipment and ensure that poles and life rings are kept within proximity to the pool area at all times.
· While most residents will have their cellphones close by, the clubhouse and pool area should have a working phone handy.
· Make sure that water safety rules are posted in a highly visible area, and make clear that those rules are enforced at all times with no exceptions. Managers may also want to consider offering CPR training for staff, with training updated regularly.
· Safety rules don’t only apply to those using the pool. Barbecuing continues to be one of the most popular events on a warm summer day. To ensure the safety of those barbecuing as well as all of your residents, make sure that city and county fire codes are enforced at all times. Regularly maintain outdoor grills and be sure that all residents are aware of grilling restrictions such as no grilling on patios, balconies, or within a certain number of feet of any standing structure.
· For added safety, be sure to keep a fire extinguisher within proximity of any public grill.
Keeping your residents safe and happy should be a priority for property managers year round. While it may be more challenging in the summer, the payoff – a happy resident is worth it.
From:: Property Management