How a Child Drowns - the Misconceptions
Drowning Statistics
Preventative Measures
Safety Recommendations when Booking a Holiday
 

There are approximately 236,000 injuries in European swimming pools every year. Most of these injuries are children & teenagers. Whereas teenagers are more likely to drown in open water, it is babies and toddlers who are more at risk of drowning in a swimming pool.
Many of these tragedies happen in residential and holiday home swimming pools. For this reason it is vital that you not only realise the importance of pool safety, but also that you put that knowledge into practice.
To view Water Safety Report from Eurosafe, click here 

As a swimming pool owner, it is your responsibility to provide a safe, healthy environment for your own family and for people who come into contact with the pool. Be vigilant for everyone's sake.
Pool safety is not only a summertime concern but rather a year-round responsibility of the homeowner.
 

It's never safe to assume that kids will not be injured in your pool. No one should ever swim alone, but especially not children. 
Pool safety starts the moment your guests come through the gate.

HOW DOES A CHILD DROWN?

Most parents are responsible people who worry about their children’s safety, but they still think that it can’t happen to them. It can. Children are drawn to water, not knowing the terrible danger pools can pose.

It takes less than 2 minutes for a child to drown.  You only need to turn your back for a minute for a tragedy to occur.

The swiftness of an accident and its possible outcome is devastating. In the few seconds it takes to turn burgers on the barbecue or dash inside for more cold drinks, a child can die. The general misconception is that there will be splashing and shouting so parents can come to the rescue. Sadly, this isn't the case. Drowning is fast and silent, which is why many parents don't even know it’s happening.

Within 2 minutes the child will become unconscious. Brain damage occurs in 4-6 minutes. Of children who survive, only about 20% are found within 2 minutes. Almost 80% are not found until 10 minutes after being submerged.

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STATISTICS

Information from RoSPA (The Royal Society For The Prevention Of Accidents) :- 

·       475 British tourists drowned on holiday between the years 2000-2005.

·       57 of these were children, predominately drowning in hotel swimming pools or the private pool at the villa where the family was staying.

·       30 children under 10 years old have drowned in holiday swimming pools abroad over the last six years  - RoSPA believes that all of these deaths could have been prevented.

The under-10’s drowned in the following places:

• Hotels – 12

• Holiday villas / homes – 8

• Campsites - 2

• Unknown - 8

More than half of these victims were under 4 years old and those children between 6 and 9 years could all swim.

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PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

You can help to prevent the tragic lost of life by taking the necessary step and erecting a fence or protective barrier around your swimming pool. The additional cost is worth the price of a human life.

The fence, preferably a purpose designed safety fence, should be installed in a way that prevents access to the pool from anywhere within the house or garden. 

It should be a minimum of 1.2m high and should have a self-closing and lockable gate for maximum protection. The latch should be high enough to be out of the reach of small children.

Finally, form safe habits in your family when it comes to locking doors and gates leading to swimming pool areas and never, ever propping one of these access points open – not even for a few seconds.

All water activities should be placed behind your swimming pool safety fence. Spas, Jacuzzis, wading pools and buckets are best kept out of harm's way.

Unfortunately, many pools are not fenced, not because of expense, but because the pool owners find fences unattractive. The necessity of swimming pool fencing doesn't mean that the attractiveness of your swimming pool will be hindered. If installed correctly, swimming pool fencing can actually enhance the way your swimming pool looks, as well as the beauty of your garden landscaping.

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Safety Recommendations when booking a holiday

RoSPA recommends the following when booking your holiday abroad:-

Holiday villas - If you book a private property – you will have to be the lifeguard. A number of holiday pool drownings have occurred in villas during the evening (or early morning) where the child has gone outside without their parent’s knowledge and ended up in the pool. It is impossible to be awake and supervise all the time. Check to see if your villa has safety barriers (permanent or otherwise) that will stop young children from getting into the pool without your help.

• Be cautious about booking villas that do not have safety fencing

• Actively supervise all young children near water

• Choose pools that are fenced with locking gates

First & last day - A significant number of the holiday pool drownings are reported to happen on the first or the last day of the holiday. RoSPA believes that parents may be less vigilant because of distractions surrounding arrival at the holiday destination and packing up to go home. Children will be keen to explore at this time and may easily slip away.

Provide your family and/or your guests with something priceless, but something money can buy - Peace of Mind.
 

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