| Drowning is often a "silent death" because a victim is | | | | Another layer of protection is a pool safety cover. |
| usually unable to splash violently or call for help, as | | | | Solar pool covers and winter pool covers are not |
| most believe is the usual situation. According to the | | | | safety covers. In fact, solar covers and winter |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning | | | | covers could possibly be very dangerous because a |
| is the second leading cause of death for children 1-14 | | | | person who steps out onto the cover while it is on |
| years old, and an extensive study performed by the | | | | the pool will quickly become trapped as the pool |
| Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found | | | | cover sinks into the water. Escape is extremely |
| that "75 percent of the children involved in swimming | | | | difficult without immediate assistance. When |
| pool submersion or drowning accidents were | | | | installed, a safety pool cover must be able to hold a |
| between 1 and 3 years old." | | | | minimum of 485 pounds per 5 square feet, according |
| In addition, the CPSC's study revealed the following | | | | to the American Society for Testing and |
| statistics: | | | | Materials’ (ASTM) standard F1346-91. Pool safety |
| - In most cases the children were being watched by | | | | covers are anchored to a deck with straps. The |
| one or both parents when the swimming pool | | | | straps usually attach to stainless steel springs and are |
| accident occurred. | | | | anchored to recessed brackets in a deck surface. A |
| - Nearly half of the child victims were previously seen | | | | mesh pool cover prevents rain and snow from |
| inside the home before the pool accident occurred. | | | | puddling on the top of the cover, but leaves, sticks, |
| - Twenty-three percent of the victims were last | | | | and other debris can gather in the pool while the |
| seen on the porch, patio, or in the yard. | | | | cover is in use. A solid cover prevents debris from |
| - Sixty-nine percent of the children who became | | | | accumulating in the pool, but it does not allow rain |
| victims in swimming pool accidents were not actively | | | | and snow to drain through; as a result, the pool |
| swimming at the time, but were found drowned or | | | | cover can sag and present a drowning danger to |
| submerged in the water. | | | | small children who may wander onto the cover if not |
| Protecting children from drowning or becoming | | | | carefully supervised. Choosing a solid pool cover with |
| submerged in a backyard swimming pool requires | | | | drain panels or obtaining a cover pump to remove |
| more than just a single safety device. Providing | | | | the excess water is highly encouraged. |
| "layers of protection" is the best strategy for | | | | An additional layer of protection is a pool alarm. Pool |
| keeping children safe in and around the pool. | | | | alarms are available in a variety of types and styles. |
| The first layer of protection is a barrier that | | | | Some are designed to detect disturbances in the |
| surrounds the pool area; generally, this is a pool fence | | | | water at surface level, some are designed to detect |
| or wall. Fences or other barriers around the pool area | | | | underwater disturbances, some act like motion |
| should be at least four feet high, and the spaces | | | | detectors using infrared beams, and some are worn |
| between slats or holes in the barrier must be so small | | | | on the wrist and sound an alarm when the device is |
| that they prevent a child from gaining a handhold or | | | | submerged. The topic of pool alarms is described in |
| foothold which would allow them access to the other | | | | more detail in Part 2 of this article. |
| side of the barrier. Any gates in the fence that | | | | No matter how many safety precautions are taken |
| surround your backyard swimming pool should have | | | | to protect children from drowning incidents, close and |
| the ability to close and latch by themselves so there | | | | constant supervision by a responsible adult is the |
| is no incidence of the gates standing open for any | | | | most important "layer of protection" to best ensure |
| length of time. In addition, gate latches should be | | | | the safety of children. Just knowing that a child can |
| placed out of the reach of children. | | | | swim and providing them with flotation devices does |
| Next, any door that comes from the house to the | | | | not substitute for supervision. Implementing most, if |
| pool area should be equipped with a door alarm that | | | | not all, of the protective measures described in this |
| makes a specific chime if the door is opened. Door | | | | article is the best defense in preventing children from |
| alarms need to alert you within 7 seconds after a | | | | experiencing a "silent death" by drowning in a |
| door is opened and for a duration of at least 30 | | | | swimming pool. |
| seconds, and the sound of the door alarm needs to | | | | Sources: |
| be a different sound so that it will not be confused | | | | - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
| with another alarm that may be in the house. In | | | | - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, |
| addition, door alarms should be equipped with a | | | | Document #359. “How to plan for the |
| switch or keypad to allow adults to enter or leave | | | | unexpected: Prevent Child Drownings.” |
| through the door without the alarm sounding. This | | | | - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, |
| switch or keypad needs to be installed high on the | | | | Document #362. “Safety Barrier Guidelines for |
| interior wall out of a child’s reach. | | | | Home Pools. |