Swimming Pool Safety : Facts and Figures
The table below, compiled from RoSPA's annual publication 'Drowning in the UK', shows the total number of drowning deaths and the number of deaths in swimming pools, over a 11-year period. Deaths by drowning in swimming pools account for only 2-3% of the total drowning deaths each year, a higher percentage of people drown in the bath than drown in swimming pools (about 10% of the total each year).
| Year |
All Drowning Deaths |
All Pool Drowning Deaths* |
Public Pool |
Private Pool |
Home Pool |
| 1993 |
384 |
24 |
11 |
6 |
6 |
| 1994 |
448 |
12 |
6 |
5 |
1 |
| 1995 |
473 |
13 |
9 |
0 |
4 |
| 1996 |
441 |
10 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
| 1997 |
440 |
24 |
7 |
7 |
9 |
| 1998 |
568 |
17 |
4 |
9 |
4 |
| 1999 |
569 |
14 |
7 |
5 |
1 |
| 2000 |
448 |
13 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
| 2001 |
430 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| 2002 |
427 |
15 |
8 |
1 |
1 |
| 2003* |
381 |
12 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
| Average |
455 |
15 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
*Includes unknown location of pool
2003 figure may stil be subject to change
Children are particularly at risk of drowning in pools, more than half of the total deaths are children under 16 years. Children aged under 11 years are most at risk and of that group, toddlers aged 2 to 3 years are the most vulnerable.
