rap #124 06/03/08

VICARI WARNS OF SWIMMING POOL DANGERS

A DIP IN the pool can be a great way to cool off this summer, but Ocean County Freeholder Director Joseph H. Vicari warned that the backyard swimming pool can also be a dangerous place, especially for young children.

“There’s been an alarming increase in the number of young children who drown each year in swimming pools,” Vicari said. “I would ask all pool owners, whether they have children themselves or not, to carefully examine their pools and make the sometimes minor changes needed to keep their yards safe.”

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the average number of children younger than five who drown in a pool or spa has jumped from 267 per year to 283.

The majority of those deaths occurred in a private setting rather than a public swimming pool.

Vicari, who is also liaison to the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs, said accidents often happen when adults are nearby.

“Tragically, many drownings occur when children get access to the pool during a short lapse in adult supervision,” Vicari said.

To reduce the risk of drowning, pool owners should adopt several layers of protection, including physical barriers, such as a fence completely surrounding the pool with self-closing, self-latching gates.

If the house forms a side of the barrier, use alarms on doors leading to the pool area and/or a power safety cover over the pool, Vicari said.

Other safety tips include:

  • Since every second counts, always look for a missing child in the pool first. Precious time is often wasted looking for missing children anywhere but in the pool.
  • Don't leave toys and floats in the pool that can attract young children and cause them to fall in the water when they reach for the items.
  • Inspect pools and spas for missing or broken drain covers.
  • Do not allow children in a pool or spa with missing/broken covers. Inserting an arm or leg into the opening can result in powerful suction and total body submersion/drowning.
  • For aboveground and inflatable pools with ladders, remove or secure the ladder when the pool is not in use.
  • It is important to always be prepared for an emergency by having rescue equipment and a phone near the pool. Parents should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

“Following these simple procedures can ensure that everyone enjoys a safe and happy summer,” Vicari said.


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