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Pool Safety: Avoid Tragedy This Summer
West Trenton, N.J. – The summer of 2014 has just begun, and New Jersey has already lost one child to a pool drowning. Every year, pools claim the lives of too many children nationwide. Many of these tragedies can be avoided if pool owners take some protective measures and follow some common-sense recommendations.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children between the ages 1 and 4 in the U.S. The report revealed that close to 400 pool and spa drownings involved children younger than 15, with more than 75% of those involving children under 5.
The most important step of prevention is constant adult supervision. Even if there are children in the pool who know how to swim, someone should be designated to watch the water at all times. If your child can’t swim, teach them how or get them lessons if you can, and if you own a pool, take the time to learn CPR.
Pools that are properly protected can help prevent both adults and children from accidently falling in. Here are a few recommendations for securing your home pool:
- The pool should be surrounded by a fence at least 4 feet tall
- The fence should have a self-closing and self-latching gate with a lock
- In-ground pools should be completely fenced in
- Install a rigid safety cover for your in-ground pool
There are also a variety of underwater motion alarms, surface movement alarms, and child wristband monitors that sound an alarm when the wristband gets wet.
Whether you are in the backyard pool or at the Jersey Shore, the New Jersey State Police wishes everyone a happy and safe summer.
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