Swimming pool owners have special responsibilities
By Staff
Ah…the joys of summer! Swimming pool owners look forward to the season when they can most enjoy relaxing around their pools with their family and friends. With a few safeguards in place, pool owners can ensure that the oasis of beauty, pleasure and relaxation in their yard brings only wonderful memories.
According to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, layers of protection are the key. This concept recognizes that supervision alone is not the answer. Certainly, adult supervision of young children is vital, but a 2004 study released by the national organization SAFE KIDS showed that the majority of adults who lost a child to drowning felt that the caregiver was supervising their child at the time of the incident.
The adult might have been in the same room as the youngster, or the next room, but they were occupied with making dinner, talking on the phone, doing laundry, or perhaps just reading their e-mail. The child slipped out of sight for just a minute or two.
Maintaining direct visual contact with a toddler every moment of the day is virtually impossible. Barriers buy you those few minutes needed to re-establish eye-to-eye contact when it has been momentarily lost. When a child is missing, always check the pool area first. Sometimes, a few seconds are too long.
Drowning remains the second-leading cause of injury-related death for children ages one to four, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Drowning incidents in that age group typically occur in residential swimming pools. Studies have shown that for every child who drowns, three to eight additional children receive emergency department (ED) care for non-fatal submersion injuries, which can cause brain damage resulting in long-term disabilities. More than 40 percent of children who receive care in an ED require hospitalization.
The good news: drowning can be prevented. Pool owners should have multiple barriers in place to ensure the safety of their family and friends. Many studies have shown conclusively that a fence that separates the home from the pool can prevent from 50 to 90 percent of all toddler drownings.
An isolation fence should be the first line of defense, but other products can provide additional layers of protection.
A solar or "bubble" cover is not a safety device, and may prevent a child who's entered the pool from being quickly located.
Responsibilities of pool ownership include ensuring children in the home learn to swim, and that adults know CPR. Swimming lessons are an additional layer of protection, but arms-length adult supervision and barriers are still necessary, as it's not possible to "drown-proof" a child. CPR and rescue breathing can make the difference between full recovery and brain damage or death. Instruct both adults and children to "reach and throw, don't go" whenever possible when attempting a rescue.
For safety when children are in the pool, designate a "water watcher" to maintain eye-to-eye contact. Free water watcher tags are available from many children's hospitals and fire departments, or you can make your own. A cordless telephone should be kept poolside at all times, so that adults never have to leave the area to answer the phone while children are swimming. It can also be used to summon help when needed.
When not in use, keep toys and other objects out of the pool area. Beware of chlorine dispensers that look like animals or other objects that will attract children. Never use air-filled swimming aids such as "water-wings" in place of life jackets for young children.
With "layers of protection" in place, you can look forward to years of relaxation and enjoyment of your pool!
