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 Pool
Safety Consortium began as an informative database
for industry leaders and tradesmen providing current standards
of international and state codes. It has since evolved into
much more, in an effort to educate the consumer on current
legislation as well as available safety devices to help protect
children and the lives of others from swimming pool and spa
tragedies.
Drowning is the
second leading cause of accidental death among children ages
1 to 14. They can drown in a variety of circumstances –
during water recreation (such as swimming and boating) and
can drown in as little as one inch of water, and drowning
is usually quick and silent. A child will lose consciousness
two minutes after submersion, with irreversible brain damage
occurring within four to six minutes. Parents and caregivers
need to understand the dangers of drowning and know the proper
steps to take to protect children.
 Many
people are unaware that underwater drains or suction outlets
of pools and spas pose hidden dangers to swimmers of all ages,
especially children. When a swimmer becomes stuck to a drain
or suction outlet in a swimming pool, spa, wading pool, or
hot tub, the force of the filtration system can be tremendous.
It's called entrapment; when the supercharged suction from
insufficiently covered drains pins the swimmer underwater.
The pressure is so intense that even strong swimmers can't
escape, and desperate would-be rescuers can't free them. More
than 75% of the identified incidents involved children, with
a median age of 9.
Several options
are available to prevent these and other drowning accidents.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC),
fences should meet the following rules:
- Fences should stand at least 4 feet (130
centimeters) high with no foot or handrails for children
to climb on.
- The slats should be less than 4 inches
(110 millimeters) apart so a child can't get through, or
if chain link, should have no opening larger than 1 3/4
inches (50 millimeters).
- Gates should be self-closing and self-latching,
and the latch should be out of the child's reach.
Pool covers, alarms,
drain covers also add additional protection. All are products
designed to avoid drowning tragedies and officials are moving
towards a uniform guideline to mandate protection. Safety
advocates say homeowners can protect themselves now by examining
their drain systems, alarms, pool covers and fences and upgrading
them if necessary. For more information about available products,
please visit our products link above or contact us at (877)222-4289.
Pool Safety Consortium will continue to strive to bring you
the most current information on legislation and product availability.
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