Water Safety at Home : Swimming Pools
RoSPA publishes statistics on deaths by drowning each year and the table below shows the number of people who have drowned in swimming pools at home, over a five-year period and shows the drowning deaths in home pools as a percentage of all drowning deaths.
| Year |
All Deaths by Drowning |
All Swimming Pools |
Home Swimming Pools |
% |
| 1998 |
568 |
17 |
4 |
0.7 |
| 1999 |
569 |
14 |
1 |
0.2 |
| 2000 |
448 |
13 |
3 |
0.7 |
| 2001 |
430 |
9 |
1 |
0.2 |
| 2002 |
427 |
15 |
1 |
0.2 |
| Average |
488 |
14 |
2 |
0.4 |
Few people drown in home swimming pools in the UK. This country does not have a climate that encourages people to have outdoor pools and therefore exposure to them is much less than in countries with a warmer climate, like Australia for example, hence the small number of fatalities. From looking at the detail of the statistics, it is often people having unsupervised access to a pool not in use who get into difficulties and founder. Children are at risk, both younger children who escape supervision for a moment and fall in, and older children who seek deliberate access whilst not being supervised. Adults who are impaired through drink or drugs are also at risk.
To prevent unsupervised access to home swimming pools by younger children and help stop others falling in, the Forum recommends that all home swimming pools are completely fenced off. Some countries, like France and Australia have introduced legislation to ensure that home pools are fenced. Fences should be at least 1.1 metres in height and have vertical rails, not more than 500mm apart. Any gate should have a child-proof latch or lock and a self-closing mechanism. Care should be exercised where a door from the house opens directly onto the pool area, this should be kept locked when supervision of the pool area is not in place. These measures should ensure that toddlers cannot gain access to the pool, they will not stop a determined older child from accessing the pool but may act as a deterrent.
Pool covers can operate as a safety feature, depending on the type of cover installed. Soft covers, whose purpose is to prevent heat loss and exclude debris, will not offer any protection from drowning and may in fact exacerbate the problem. Someone falling onto a soft pool cover can become entangled in it and struggle to get out, or may slip beneath the cover making it less likely that they will be detected and able to get assistance. It is possible to buy a 'hard' cover for swimming pools, which completely seals off the pool when it is in place and will bear the weight of an adult and prevent immersion. Care must be taken to ensure that rain water either cannot gather on the top of the cover (creating its own pool) or that there is a mechanism in place, like a pump, to ensure that any surface water is cleared from the cover.
Caution must be exercised however, because these safety covers can lull parents and supervisors into a false sense of security. The covers are only effective when they are in place, therefore once they are removed and the pool is 'open', supervision of the pool area is absolutely essential. The Forum therefore recommends that 'hard' safety covers are used in conjunction with fencing, so that once the pool is 'open' there is still something in place to stop unsupervised access by very young children and a barrier to prevent people from falling in.
If you have a pool at home consider the following:-
- Alert visitors to your property of the presence of the swimming pool and impress upon them that they must supervise their children at all times.
- Fence the pool area.
- Warn children of the dangers of unsupervised access to the pool and teach them to swim.
- Learn rescue techniques and basic first aid. Ensure you know what to do in an emergency. Have a phone by the pool when it is in use.
- If having a pool party, ensure that at least one adult acts as a 'lifeguard' during the party and that constant supervision is maintained. Young children who cannot swim, should be supervised on a one to one basis.
- Discourage adults from swimming after alcohol or a heavy meal.
Remember that this advice also applies when you go on holiday. Be extra vigilant if you rent a holiday property abroad that has a pool, particularly if you are not used to this feature at home. More children from the UK drown in hotel and villa pools abroad than drown in public pools in the UK.
Remember that whilst fences and covers can offer some protection against children drowning in pools, there is no substitute for active and constant supervision of children.
