Children Drownings In Swimming Pools

The U.S . Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with National Spa and Pool Institute, today issued an alert to warn owners of residential swimming pools and spas (including hot tubs) of a large number of drownings of young children each year.

An estimated 290 children under five years of age drowned in residential swimming pools and an estimated 24 children under age five drowned in residential spas in 1981. Two out of every three victims were under three years of age.

Significantly, residential pool and spa drownings ranked as the fourth leading cause of accidental deaths among children under five years of age in 1981. Only motor vehicle fatalities, deaths involving home fires, and deaths associated with ingestions of food and objects were more frequent causes of death.

Near misses are also a safety problem. The Commission estimates that in 1983, approximately 1,950 children under age five were treated in hospital emergency rooms as a result of "near drowning" accidents. About 75 percent of these cases were serious enough to require hospitalization and some "near drownings" resulted in severe brain damage.

The Commission stresses the need for constant and close supervision of children around swimming pools and spas. Continual supervision is critical. Available data suggests that the vast majority of children who drown in pools do so in the backyards of their own homes.

In a study (of childhood drownings involving children 12 years of age and under) conducted a few years ago in Dade County, Florida, 97 percent of the pools involved in drowning incidents were either fenced or screened in, with the house itself often forming part of the barrier.

Only 14 percent of these pools were themselves totally enclosed by a protective fence. Sadly, 64 percent of the victims drowned in their own pools while 36 percent died in neighbors' or relatives' pools. Where there were locks on pool fences or screens, 70 percent were either unlocked or malfunctioning. In 23 percent of the cases studied the children penetrated the fence.

The peak times for drownings were between the afternoon hours of 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.; the peak day was on the weekend.

Consumers are invited to report incidents of drownings or "near drownings" by calling the Commission toll-free at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing impaired is (800) 638-8270.