Child drowning is a silent death. There is no splashing to alert anyone that a child is in trouble — and it can happen in the time it takes to answer a phone. Each year, nationwide, about 300 children under 5 years old drown in swimming pools, usually a pool owned by their family. In addition, more than 2,000 children in that age group are treated in hospital emergency rooms for submersion injuries annually.
CPSC research found that 77 percent of child drowning victims had been missing from sight for 5 minutes or less. Sixty-nine percent of victims were not expected to be at or in the pool — yet they were found in the water. Seventy-five percent of submersion victims were between 1 and 3 years old, and 65 percent of that group were boys.
Barriers Save Lives
Barriers are not childproof, but they provide critical layers of protection for a child who strays from supervision — giving parents additional time to locate a child before the unexpected becomes a reality. Barriers include fences, door alarms, and power safety covers.
Fences and Gates
- Install a fence or other barrier completely around the pool. If the house forms part of the barrier, doors leading from the house to the pool should be protected with an alarm or the pool should have a power safety cover.
- The fence should be at least 4 feet high with no foot- or handholds that could help a young child climb it.
- Vertical fence slats should be less than 4 inches apart to prevent a child from squeezing through.
- Fence gates should be self-closing and self-latching, well maintained, and the latch should be out of a child’s reach.
- Never prop open the gate to a pool barrier.
Door Alarms
- If the house forms one side of the pool barrier, install alarms on all doors leading from the house to the pool that produce an audible sound when a door is unexpectedly opened.
- The alarm keypad or switch should be placed high on the door, out of a child’s reach, so adults can pass through without triggering the alarm.
Power Safety Covers
- A power safety cover may be used as an alternative to door alarms. It should meet the requirements of the ASTM pool cover standard, which requires the cover to withstand the weight of two adults and a child to allow for rescue if someone falls onto it.
- A young child can drown in just inches of water — even water pooled on top of a cover poses a risk.
Above-Ground Pools
- Steps and ladders leading from the ground to the pool should be secured, locked, or removed when the pool is not in use.
Pool Safety Rules
- Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool. During social gatherings at or near a pool, appoint a designated watcher to protect young children. Adults may take turns in this role.
- If a child is missing, check the pool first. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool — bottom and surface — as well as the surrounding area.
- Do not allow a young child in the pool without an adult present.
- Do not consider young children drown-proof because they have had swimming lessons. Children must be watched closely while swimming.
- Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
- Learn CPR. Babysitters, grandparents, older siblings, and other caretakers should also know CPR.
- Keep rescue equipment by the pool and keep a telephone poolside with emergency numbers posted nearby.
- Remove toys from in and around the pool when it is not in use. Toys can attract young children to the pool.
- Instruct babysitters about pool hazards and the use of protective devices such as door alarms and latches.
