Chief offers tips for backyard pool safety Middletown Township Police Chief John Pollinger urges residents to follow a few rules to avoid potential tragedy with the advent of summer and the use of backyard pools. Each summer, the department responds to several drownings or severe injury calls as a direct result of individuals disregarding accepted safety procedures for home swimming pools. The Chief urges residents to exercise the following rules while using backyard pools: • Do not leave small children unattended, even for a minute in the area of the pool • Do not allow children of any age to use the pool unless there is another person present, even if the child is a good swimmer • Do not allow any individual to dive into shallow water • Avoid excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages while using a swimming pool • Keep swimming pool gates locked and inaccessible at all times when not in use • Install alarms for doors leading out to a pool • Purchase floating motion sensors that activate when surface water is disturbed Observance of the above can prevent a needless tragedy.