Residential Pool Safety Survey Under Way

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 1986
Release # 86-31

Residential Pool Safety Survey Under Way

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has begun a study to determine the causes of accidental drownings and near-drownings involving children under five in residential pools and spas.

Cooperating in the study are the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical, emergency and health care professionals. The study is to be completed by September 30.

An estimated 300 children under five years of age drown annually - in residential swimming pools and spas. There are another estimated 3,000 near-drownings of children in the same age group. Some of these accidents result in permanent impairment.

Nationally, drowning is the fourth leading cause of death for youngsters under five. In some state, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in that age group.

CPSC offers the following tips for owners of residential swimming pools and spas:

NEVER LEAVE A CHILD UNSUPERVISED NEAR A POOL.
INSTRUCT BABYSITTERS ABOUT POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO YOUNG CHILDREN IN AND AROUND SWIMMING POOLS AND THE NEED FOR CONSTANT SUPERVISION.
COMPLETELY FENCE THE POOL.
INSTALL SELF LOCKING AND SELF-CLOSING GATES. POSITION LATCHES OUT OF REACH OF YOUNG CHILDREN.
DO NOT CONSIDER YOUNG CHILDREN "DROWN PROOF" BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD SWIMMING LESSONS.
DO NOT USE FLOTATION DEVICES AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR SUPERVISION.
NEVER USE A POOL WITH ITS POOL COVER PARTIALLY IN PLACE. REMOVE A POOL COVER COMPLETELY.
PLACE TABLES AND CHAIRS WELL AWAY FROM THE POOL FENCE TO PREVENT CHILDREN FROM CLIMBING INTO THE POOL AREA.
KEEP TOYS AWAY FROM THE POOL AREA BECAUSE A YOUNG CHILD PLAYING WITH THE TOYS COULD ACCIDENTALLY FALL IN THE WATER.
HAVE A POOLSIDE TELEPHONE WITH EMERGENCY NUMBERS TAPED TO IT.
LEARN CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (CPR).
KEEP RESCUE EQUIPMENT BY THE POOL

Additionally, on the eve of the opening of many pools around the country for the summer season, CPSC cautions swimmers about improper diving practices which can result in serious injuries and cause quadraplegia.

Safety experts urge divers to observe the following precautions:

NEVER DIVE INTO AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL IT IS TOO SHALLOW. DON'T DIVE FROM THE SIDE OF AN IN-GROUND POOL. ENTER THE WATER FEET FIRST.
DIVE ONLY FROM THE CENTER OF THE DIVING BOARD.
ALWAYS STEER UP IMMEDIATELY UPON ENTERING THE WATER.
DON'T DIVE IF UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS.
IMPROPER USE OF POOL SLIDES PRESENTS THE SAME POTENTIAL DANGER AS IMPROPER DIVING TECHNIQUES. NEVER SLIDE HEAD FIRST; SLIDE FEET FIRST ONLY.

The CPSC requests that consumers report drowning or near-drowning incidents involving children to CPSC's toll-free hotline at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is 800-638-8720.