SWIMMING POOL SAFETY

Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death in children. Near-drowning events, in which children survive for at least 24 hours, also occur frequently. Toddlers and adolescent males are statistically at greatest risk.

There are certain precautions that can be taken at different ages to minimize the risks of drowning.  For newborn infants and children through 4 years of age, the most important safety precaution is to never, even for a moment, leave children alone or in the care of another child while in bathtubs, pools, spas, wading pools or near other standing water.  All water should be removed from containers such as pails/buckets. Whenever children are in or around water, at home, neighbor’s, a party or elsewhere, they should be within an arm’s length of an adult.  The adult should also not be engaged in distracting activities, such as talking on the phone, socializing or doing household chores.

Residential homes should have a 4-sided fence that prevents direct access to the pool from the house.  This fence should be at least 4 feet high (preferably higher), should be climb-resistant, i.e. an iron fence with bars, as opposed to chain-link,  and the bars should be less than 4 inches apart and less than 4 inches from the ground to the bottom of the fence.  One of the most important parts of the fence is a self-latching, self-closing gate that opens away from the pool.  Pool covers and alarms are not substitutes for an effective fence and gate.

Many people think that if their child has learned how to swim, they are safe; however, under the age of 4, most children are not ready for formal swimming lessons and even if they are ready to learn how to swim at a younger age, the above safety measures should be taken.  Parents, caregivers and pool owners should learn CPR and have a telephone and approved rescue equipment at poolside.  Air-filled swimming aids (such as water wings) should not be used in place of life preservers.  Parents should make sure that all caregivers are aware of and understand the need for constant supervision around water.

Between the ages of 5 and 12, in addition to the above measures, children should be taught to swim (although just as with younger children, this does not mean they are totally safe).  They should also be taught not to swim alone or without adult supervision and the different safety requirements in different types of water, such as lakes, streams, rivers and oceans.  At this age and older, children should be cautioned about the risks of diving and jumping into water.

The adolescent age 13 and up presents other risk factors around bodies of water.  They should be counseled about all of the above, in addition to the risks of alcohol and drugs during water recreation.  Adolescents should also learn CPR.



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