Long Island Officials Stress Mandatory Pool-Safety Measures With Owners

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Ten people drown across the United States on a daily basis, with many of them being young children who have wandered unattended into pools.

CBS2's Alice Gainer reported that Nassau County officials on Thursday stressed the mandatory safety measures pool owners must now take.

With pool season upon us, and many more children headed for water, Hempstead town officials sounded an alarm.

"Under law, all homeowners in the incorporated town must have an alarm capable of detecting a child in the water," Hempstead Town Supervisor Anthony Santino said.

Town officials demonstrated how any motion will set off the alarm, alerting pool owners that someone is in the water.

Resident Richard LeBlanc said he just finished making sure his pool complies as his 4-year-old granddaughter Amelia has learned how to swim.

"I just put the alarm in and also barrier alarms on the rear door, and a lock on the gate," LeBlanc said. "It wasn't cheap, but it's better than having one of these people disappearing."

Most towns now require that pool alarms must sound their warning beginning at 85 decibels. Pool owners must also enclose the pool in at least a five-foot, non-climbable fence and the property must have a self-closing and self-latching gate with a lock.

In Hempstead, pool managers train thousands of kids how to swim each year, starting as young as 5 years old.

"We want to make sure a kid can tread water and float so they can save themselves in any emergency," aquatic program coordinator Jason Vitulli said.

Hannah Nevitc, a nanny for two young girls, said all the safety measures in the world won't help if people are not paying attention to who's in the water.

"You gotta make sure you have your eye on them, can't be something like where it's within earshot," Nevitc said. "You gotta see them."