Swimming Pool Safety : Safety Advice
Although the number of people who drown in swimming pools each year is small and represents only about 3% of the total number of deaths by drowning, it is still imperative to try and reduce this figure further. Analysis of the fatality data reveals some common factors for drowning deaths, these include:-
- Absence of or inadequate response by lifeguard to emergency
- Breakdown in parental supervision
- Prior health problems
- Alcohol and/or food consumption immediately before swimming
- Weak/non swimmers straying out of depth
- Youth and inexperience
- Unruly behaviour/misuse of equipment
- Unauthorised access to pools when closed
- Diving into insufficient depth of water
- Cloudy pool water, preventing casualties being seen
Further advice is available for pool users and pool operators, both having a role to play in working together to minimise the risks.
