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San Diego
Chapter Independent Pool & Spa Service Association |
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The Pool & Spa Industry's Premier
Independent Service Organization Drowning Prevention Tips
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Most drownings and near-drownings occur when a child accidentally falls into a pool or is left alone in a tub. Remember. it takes only an inch of water and a few moments for a child to drown. Follow these water safety rules and make sure your children know them and observe them at all times.
- If a child in missing, immediaely look in the pool and/or spa first.
- Never leave a child alone in a pool, spa, beach or tub - not even for a second. If you must leave for any reason, take the child with you.
- Young children are never drown-proof, even if they've had 'water adjustment" instruction.
- Enclose your pool and spa with a fence or wall. All gates should have a spring lock, self-closing and self-locking mechanism. The inside latch should be above the reach of toddlers and young children. Keep pool and spa areas locked to prevent unsupervised access.
- Consider extra layers of protection such as safety fences, safety covers and alarms on doors and windows leading to the pool. However, do realize these devices are not fool-proof and there is no subsitute for adult supervision.
- When using safety fences, remove chairs, toys or other items that children could use to climb over the fence.
- When using safety covers, fuly remove before using the pool, replace them promptly after use and remove standing water after rains.
- Teach your child pool or spa safety habits: no running, pushing, dunking or jumping on others; no diving or jumping in shallow water.
- Don't rely solely on plastic innertubes, inflatable arm hands or other toys to prevent accidents.
- Keep toys, especially tricycles or wheel toys away from the pool or spa.
- Don't allow anyone of any age to swim without a 'spotter" nearby. Examples of safety behavior by adults are important for young children.
- Don't permit playful screaming (false alarms) for help; a real emergency could go unrecognized.
- Teach your child the best way to get out of the pool or spa quickly.
- Keep emergency reaching and throwing aids in a stationary position on both sides of the pool.
- Don't allow your child to swim immediately after a heavy meal.
- Don't allow swimming during thunderstorms.
- Don't allow glass in the pool or spa area.
- Don't allow the use of drugs or alcohol by persons using the pool, spa, or pool or areas.
- Enroll children over three in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors. Keep in mind that lessons don't make your child drown-proof.
- Never let children swim alone or in unsupervised areas like quarries, canals or ponds.
- Teach your swimmers never to dive into unknown bodies of water or from the sides or shallow ends of pools. Wade in first to test depth.
- Both you and your children should learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) as soon as possible.
- Have a protable or cell phone at the pool or spa. Teach your children how to dial the 9-1-1 emergency system.
Facts on Drownings
| Fact: | Drowning is the leasding cause of death for San Diego County children between one and four years old. About 70 percent of these drownings occur in a residential swimming pool or spa. |
| Fact: | In the past ten years, over 540 children were admitted to Children's Hospital for drowning and near incidents and 116 of them were deaths. |
| Fact: | Drowning is a silent event. Drowning children do not stuggle or cry for help. Since the child submerges almost immediately, no warnings occur. |
| Fact: | Drownings occur in surprisingly short breaks of supervision. Victims were often last sseen indoors or playing outdoors away fro the pool/spa area. Adults were almost always nearby. |
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