It takes only two minutes for a toddler to drown in a swimming pool, according to Nemours KidsHealth. Drowning ranks in second place for deaths of children under the age of 14, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting that nearly 30 percent of child deaths between the ages of 1 and 4 were linked to accidental drowning. Toddler deaths in swimming pools are preventable with proper safeguards and adult supervision.
Features
Local laws require fencing for public and community pools, but not all require a fence for home pools. The Centers for Disease Control recommends installation of four-sided fencing for family pools at a height of at least four feet, along with automatic door locks with access alarms. Trip-free decking that is cleared of toys and pool equipment assists in reducing slip and fall accidents for toddlers. Attractive nuisances such as toys or floats must be removed from the pool to discourage toddlers from reaching into the pool to retrieve them.
Function
Pool floats, inflatable water wings and foam play toys such as noodles are not designed for toddler pool safety, according the American Academy of Pediatricians. Life jackets should be worn by toddlers at all times while in the water or at poolside, even when under adult supervision, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The safest life jackets are U.S. Coast Guard approved and display the Coast Guard endorsement on their packaging. Simple fabric vests may not provide the required safety features necessary to save a toddler. The jacket must fit properly and must have the appropriate chest, weight and height measurements. A crotch strap and safety pull hook on the back are necessary components. The bottom strap prevents the jacket from floating off over the head and the back hook allows assistance from the side of the pool if the child is in danger.
Considerations
The Centers for Disease Control notes that toddler drowning statistics are higher for Alaskan natives, American Indians and African Americans than for the white population, for a multitude of reasons. Fewer pools are located in minority communities. A generally lesser emphasis placed on swimming skills in minority cultures may account for the disproportionally high deaths for young children in those communities.
Misconceptions
Installation of fencing and gates does not always guarantee pool safety. Gates may be left open by other swimmers, allowing toddlers entry into the pool area. Gates should be equipped with automatic closure devices to increase the level of safety. Older children may also open gates and crawl over fences to allow toddlers entry, and the use of a key lock on pool gates guarantees that access to the pool remains closed to younger children who are unable to scale the fencing or gate.
Expert Insight
While children can drown in buckets, toilets and bathtubs, the most common drowning location for children between the ages of 1 and 4 is a swimming pool. The Centers for Disease Control states that parents and guardians must use "touch supervision" at all times when a toddler is in the water or on the pool deck. Touch supervision means the guardian must be close enough to touch the child. The supervisor should not be involved in any other activities, such as "reading, playing cards, talking on the phone, or mowing the lawn," while supervising the children, according to the CDC.
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