Pool and Spa Safety for Children
With the hot weather already upon us, many have already indulged in
a relaxing swim with your child. But pool safety may not always be on
our minds when soaking up a few rays. Parents and caregivers must pay
particularly close attention to children playing in or around pool areas.
Drowning deaths involving children under the age of five have been on
the rise in the past few years. 70% of children who drown are in the care
of both parents. A new federal
pool and spa safety law was signed by President Bush on December 19th,
2007 that requires all public pools and spas to have a safety drain cover,
and in certain circumstances, an anti-entrapment system by December 19th,
2008. This new federal law will drastically reduce the possibility of
a child from underwater entrapment due to the suction force of a pool
or spa’s drain.
Statistics show that 19% of drowning deaths occur at public pools under
the supervision of life guards. The remaining 81% occur at that home.
This substantially high percentage makes it important for parents to remember
that just because your child is at home, doesn’t mean that they will always
be safer. Children that drown usually have last been seen inside the home
and have been gone for less than 5 minutes. Since every second counts,
if your child is missing while at a pool, look in the pool first. Many
parents waste time searching around the pool rather than in the pool.
92% of children who drown and have been found within two minutes have
survived. 86% of children who die are found ten or more minutes after
drowning.
Other important tips to pool safety
- Never allow your child to roam freely around a pool that has no barrier
or fencing.
- If you own a pool, make sure that it has a barrier/ fence that is
locked to prevent children from falling in. If the pool is above ground,
make sure the ladder is removed and stored in a secure location when
the pool is not in use.
- Do not let children in a pool that has a missing or broken drain cover.
- Don’t leave toys or floats in a pool that would attract young children.
- Don’t run around a pool, surfaces outside the pool are usually wet
from exiting and present a slip hazard.
- Don’t allow your child to dive in a no-diving area in a pool.
- Always keep an eye on your child when they are in or around a pool.
http://www.poseidon-tech.com/us/statistics.html
http://www.relaxnswim.com/safety/drownstats.htm
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08276.html
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/For%20Parents/Everyday%20Parenting/Family%20Life/NewReportShows.htm
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