An average of 385 children younger than 15 drowned in a pool or spa in recent years, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. About three-quarters of the deaths from 2005 to 2007 occurred at a residence.
In a report released this week, the CPSC said pool- or spa-related submersions sent 4,200 kids younger than 15 to the emergency room from 2007 to 2009. Nearly half of these injuries occurred among children ages 12 to 35 months, and about 54 percent occurred at a home.
Consumer Reports says that many of the incidents happen in inflatable pools, which can hold thousands of gallons of water and have soft, unprotected sides that children can easily fall into. Carol Pollack Nelson, an independent safety consultant, told Consumer Reports that 209 drowning incidents associated with soft pools were reported to the CPSC from 2001 to 2009. Children younger than five were involved in 94 percent of the accidents.
Thanks for highlighting this crucial summer safety message Joanna. Child drowning studies conducted by the CPSC and SafeKidsUSA have found that most drowning victims were missing for five minutes or less and more than half were last seen in the house. Children drown during a very brief lapse in supervision, when parents or caregivers are distracted by taking care of another child, a phone call or routine household chores. That’s why the National Drowning Prevention Alliance recommends installing LAYERS OF PROTECTION to prevent a child’s unsupervised access to a swimming pool or spa. The paper is available at . Most child safety advocates insist the most crucial and effective layer of protection is a four-sided fence with a self-closing self-latching gate that separates the pool from the house and from the surrounding yard area. For more pool safety tips visit