National Swim Safety Campaign Launches Today

Today marks the kick-off for a national pool and spa safety campaign brought to you by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or PoolSafely.com. (Not a typo — it is pool “safely” as opposed to “safety.” I asked).

It is a first-of-its-kind nationally addressed approach to sparking a conversation about swim safety education with families, pool operators and industry professionals. Much of the focus is on pool and spa entrapment, but I see this wrapped up in a major message about preventative measures using key phrases such as “performing that extra pool-safety step” or implementing “a personal system of safety.” However families and pool professionals are to remember it, I like what I see because it will bring light to a lot of overlooked yet simple ways to increase water safety.

This also coincides with the CPSC’s annual reports on children’s submersion and entrapment incidents. For the complete report, click this link. Here are some findings:

• 78% pool and spa-related drownings are younger than five (between years 2005-2007)
• Total drowning for these years/age equals to 299 fatalities
• 74% of these drowning occurred at a residence (I’d like this to be defined a little more, but I’m thinking private homes)

The American Academy of Pediatricians also came out today with similar suggestions and preventative measures, and have revised their definition of drowning. This will help present and collect data better. Also, here’s some more big news:  The AAP has lifted its advisory against swimming lessons for children between the ages of 1 and 4 years. However, the AAP is quick to point out it this doesn’t mean they now recommend lessons for this age group. They also noted that there is no evidence that infants under 12 months should receive swimming instruction. All that is a post in itself and you can read the policy statement here.

The AAP gives us something really interesting to add  to our statistics above :

• 32% of the drownings occur in an artificial pool

Makes sense: The majority of artificial or plastic pools — inflatable or portable  — do not have fences or alarms. It doesn’t matter if there is just 1-foot of water in one of those little ones. If the majority of children who drown are younger than five, we’re talking coordination and strength issues and if they haven’t had lessons, aren’t equipped to deal with pool safety issues as well.  Artificial pools appear to breed entrapment, with their slippery surfaces, cold temps, tight fit and unsturdy sides. We look them over so easily.

I know this paints a picture you don’t want to look at, but I think that’s the point of the “Pool Safely” campaign. By carefully gathering this important but unfortunate data correctly, these organizations can find out what the problems are, revise their advice (like the AAP’s “lift” or “relaxization” on waiting formalized lessons age), talk to the public about it with this current campaign, and prevent the problems from growing. Thinking over the cause and numbers, do you have any great pool safety advice to share? It’s time to look at this issue from all angles and solutions.