[CPSC PSA:] If your toddler falls in the pool, you'd think you'll hear this: (SPLASH SOUND and SCREAM). But what you'll really hear is this: (MUTED SPLASH SOUND). It happens quickly and silently. About 260 children younger than five drown in pools each year. That's about one nursery school class each month. Put a fence around your pool. Place an alarm on doors leading to the pool area. For more pool safety tips, visit The Consumer Product Safety Commission Web site at cpsc.gov.

[Patty]: That is a new public service announcement unveiled by CPSC this week. It vividly shows what many Parents think they would hear if their child fell into a pool – lots of splashing and screaming. They might think they would have time to come to the rescue. But in reality, drowning deaths occur quickly and quietly. It can happen in the few minutes it takes to answer the phone or the door bell. See the full video version of this PSA at our Web site, at www.cpsc.gov.

CPSC strongly advises that parents use layers of protection around the pool to prevent their children from becoming a drowning victim.

To reduce the risk of drowning, CPSC recommends adopting layers of protection, including physical barriers, such as a fence with self-closing, self-latching gates completely surrounding pools to prevent unsupervised access by young children. If the house forms a side of the barrier, use alarms on doors leading to the pool area or a power safety cover over the pool.

It is important to always be prepared for an emergency by having rescue equipment and a phone near the pool. Also, all parents who own pools should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (or CPR).

No one layer of protection is foolproof to prevent drowning in pools. Use as many layers of protection as possible. Multiple barriers and constant supervision are essential to protecting children.

Last year, CPSC highlighted the growing dangers of the popular inflatable or portable pools, which range in size from small kiddie pools to pools up to 4-feet deep and 18-feet wide. Between 2004 and 2006, CPSC received 47 reports of deaths of children related to inflatable pools.

Large inflatable pools are relatively inexpensive – large pools with water filters can cost under $200. They often have slanted or flexible sides, which make it easier for children to climb into the pool even without a ladder present. These pools are often purchased by consumers without considering the barriers, such as fencing, that are necessary to protect young children.

In addition to barriers and constant supervision, CPSC offers these tips to help prevent drowning deaths:

Since every second counts, always look for a missing child in the pool first. Precious time is often wasted looking for missing children anywhere but in the pool.

Don’t leave toys and floats in the pool that can attract young children and cause them to fall in the water when they reach for the items.

For above-ground and inflatable pools with ladders, remove or secure the ladder when the pool is not in use.

Even if children can swim, it doesn’t make them drown-proof. Always supervise children using the pool.

For more information about drowning prevention, go to www.cpsc.gov.

Also this week, CPSC announced the following recalls:

Tri-Star International imported about 2,000 Children’s Toys, including Ball Rattles, Wrist Rattles, and Wind-Up Toys, that were recalled because they contain small parts that pose a choking hazard.

The ball rattle is a multi-colored, 3-inch ball with oval openings and a small hexagon opening at each end. The wrist rattle toy is a white plastic wristband toy with six multi-colored balls with small bells inside. The wind-up toy is a 7.5-inch pink giraffe with yellow legs and a green wind-up knob below the tail of the giraffe.

They were sold at Dollar stores in California from January 2005 through May 2007 for about $1.

Consumers should immediately take these toys away from children and return them to the store where purchased for a refund.

Army & Air Force Exchange Service or AAFES is recalling about 3,000 “Soldier Bear” Toy Sets Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard.

Surface paints on the toy action figures contain high levels of lead.. This recall involves toy sets with multiple action figures and vehicles sold at AAFES stores worldwide from August 2006 through April 2007 for about $20.

Consumers should immediately take the toys away from children and return the product to the nearest AAFES store for full refund.

For more information about these and other recalls, go to our Web site at www.cpsc.gov. And until next time, stay safe.

End.