Did you know that every year 300 children under age 5 die and 2,000+ children visit hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to submersion in swimming pools? The simple fact is that pools can be dangerous to young children (and are the leading cause of accidental death) who are under five years old.
Even the smallest of wading pools can drown a young child, for a specific reason. Young children are still developing–their bodies are trying to catch up with their heads. Because of the weight and size of a child’s head, it makes it difficult for them to lift their heads up, should they become submerged under as little as 2 inches of water.
Statistics state that 65% of submersion incidents occur at the child’s home pool, with 33% of the incidents happening in the pool at the home of a relative or friend. Most often, the parents were home, and the children were being supervised by one or both parents, who simply did not expect their child to be near the pool. Toddlers in particular (1-3 years old) are learning new things every day, so their movements are unforeseen. With 75% of incidents occurring in this age-range, toddlers are at the highest risk–a newly acquired skill or developing curiosity leads them to the pool. Another dire result of disregarding the dangers inherent in pools is that many victims don’t die from drowning–but may be severely brain damaged.
Parents who own pools can take their own precautions to reduce the chances of their youngsters accessing the family pool or spa without adult supervision.
It is important to note that child drowning is a silent death. There’s no splashing to indicate trouble. In the time it takes to answer the front door, a child can drown if not watched–75% of victims were out of sight for less than 5 minutes.
So what precautions can a parent take to protect their children? Below are some tips to put your mind at ease:
- Never leave your children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. An adult who knows CPR should actively supervise children at all times.
- Practice touch supervision with children younger than 5 years.
This means that the adult is within an arm’s length of the child at all times.
You must put up a fence to separate your house from the pool.
Most young children who drown in pools wander out of the house and fall into the pool. Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all 4 sides of the pool. This fence will completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard. Use gates that self-close and self-latch, with latches higher than your children’s reach.
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