Welcome to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Podcast for May 19, 2006.
With Memorial Day and warm weather for most of the country just around the corner, CPSC is again warning parents about the dangers of swimming pools to young children. Here’s CPSC Chairman, Hal Stratton.
HAL: Each year, about 280 children drown in swimming pools, and we’re seeing an increasing number of incidents in inflatable pools. These pools are shallow, and the sides are flexible, giving young children easy access.
CPSC has reports of 17 drowning deaths involving inflatable pools in 2005, up from nine in 2004 and 10 in 2003. Larger inflatable pools can be up to 4-feet deep and 18-feet wide, and can cost under $200.
Some local jurisdictions require barriers for larger inflatable pools. For example, the state of New York requires fencing around any pool that is at least 2-feet deep. These pools may often be purchased by consumers without considering the barriers necessary to help protect young children from the dangers of pools.
To reduce the risk of drowning, CPSC recommends layers of protection, including 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 should learn CPR. Many drowning deaths occur when young children are not expected to be near the pool area. In a CPSC study, almost 70 percent of the victims were last seen in the house or nearby on a porch or in the yard before the incident.
HAL: Drownings can happen quickly and quietly. Often there is no splashing or screaming. So, whenever a child is missing, always look in the pool first, because every second counts.
Copies of free drowning prevention publications can be obtained by going to CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov, or by calling CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772.
In addition to having barriers to prevent young children from accessing your inflatable pool, owners should also check if their inflatable pool ladder is part of a recall announced this week. Aqua-Leisure Industries is recalling 320,000 Simple Set Inflatable Pool Ladders. The plastic step support clips can be assembled upside down, causing the ladder steps to break under a user’s weight.
Aqua-Leisure and CPSC are aware of nine incidents with six reported injuries, including a concussion, a broken arm, fractured ribs and a wrist sprain.
The ladders were included with Aqua® Leisure Simple-Set® inflatable pools that range from 12- to 18-feet in diameter. The white metal arched ladders have two, three or four plastic blue steps on each side. Each step is molded with the words “Aqua® Leisure.”
They were sold at discount department and toy stores nationwide from January 2002 through August 2005 for between $90 and $200, depending on the size of the pool.
Consumers should immediately stop using the ladders and contact Aqua-Leisure for a free repair kit. For more information, call Aqua-Leisure toll-free at (866) 807-3998 or visit the company’s Web site at www.aqualeisure.com.
For additional information on all CPSC recalls and safety news, visit our Web site at www.cpsc.gov. Until next time, stay safe
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