For More Information Contact:
Shannon Smith, 860-550-4077
Nearly 140 Tragic Child Drownings In Pools and Spas
Reported By Media In Summer 2012
Initial summer drowning figures are only part
of the annual toll
Sept. 17th,
New York, NY - According to information compiled from media
reports and released today by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s
(CPSC) Pool Safely
campaign, 137 children younger than 15 years drowned in a pool or spa during
the traditional summer season of Memorial Day to Labor Day this year. An additional 168 children of that age
required emergency response for near-fatal incidents in pools or spas during
that period.
“Drowning,
for the most part, IS preventable.
That’s why learning water safety and swimming skills at an early age is
so critical. Swim Strong Foundation
joins Pool Safely, as a local partner to raise awareness and educate our communities about this life
altering issue. Swim Strong’s
affordable swim programs for ages 3
through adult give people the skills to be safe and healthy in the water, ”said
Shawn Slevin, founder of Swim Strong Foundation. The media figures for this summer show that
54 of these drownings occurred soon after the children left an adult who was in
their immediate vicinity, and 31 children drowned despite the presence of
others at the pool.
In
addition, the media reports from this summer are consistent with CPSC’s annual
reports in showing that young children and toddlers are especially vulnerable
to drowning— at least 100 of the 137 children who drowned were younger than
five. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among children one
to four years of age.
“These
figures are a strong indication that child drownings are a serious public
health problem,” CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum said. “We are losing too many
children to drowning, tragically cutting short these young lives and leaving
families devastated. While summer is ending, our vigilance in ensuring that all
children pool safely must not end. With so many indoor community pools, hotel
pools and spas, indoor waterparks, as well as outdoor pools that remain open in
warm-weather states, we must continue our efforts to remind everyone to pool
safely whenever they are near the water.”
Not every
child drowning is reported on or tracked by the media. In turn, it takes time
for CPSC to compile data of all child drownings from around the country. Each
May, CPSC releases reports for drownings and non-fatal submersion for children
younger than 15 years of age. CPSC data from 2007 to 2009 shows an annual
average of 243 children drowned in pools or spas during the summer months,
which is about 63 percent of the average annual drowning figures for these
years.
CPSC’s Pool Safely campaign message reinforces
the important safety steps: stay close to children in the water, be alert, and
watch children in and around the pool at all times. During the summer of 2012,
the following twelve states suffered the largest number of pool and spa
drownings for children younger than 15:
- Texas (17) 7. Florida (6)
- California (10) 8. Illinois (6)
- Ohio (9) 9. North Carolina (6)
- Arizona (8) 10. Alabama (5)
- Michigan (8) 11. Georgia (5)
- Pennsylvania (7) 12. New York (5)
CPSC’s 2012 submersion report shows on
average 390 pool or spa-related drownings occur each year for children younger
than 15, based on statistics from 2007-2009. About 5,200 pool or spa-related
emergency department-treated submersion injuries occur on average each year for
children younger than 15.
The Pool Safely campaign provides
information on the simple steps that parents, caregivers and pool owners should
take to ensure that children and adults stay safe around pools and spas:
- Stay close, be alert and watch children in and around the pool. Never leave children unattended in a pool or spa; always watch children closely around all bodies of water; teach children basic water safety tips; and keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings.
- Learn and practice water safety skills. Every family member should know how to swim. Learn how to perform CPR on both children and adults.
- Have appropriate equipment for your pool or spa. This includes pool fencing, a lockable safety cover for spas, proper drain covers to avoid entrapment, and lifesaving equipment such as life rings and a reaching pole.
The Pool Safely campaign was launched in
2010 to raise awareness about pool and spa safety, as mandated by the Virginia
Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. This year, the campaign is increasing its
focus on populations most at risk of drowning, including children younger than
five years old who represent 75 percent of child drowning fatalities on
average, and African American and Hispanic children between the ages of 5 and
14 who drown at higher rates than white children, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Data from USA Swimming indicates that 70
percent of African American children and 62 percent of Hispanic children cannot
swim, making them especially vulnerable to drowning.
About Swim Strong Foundation:
Swim Strong Foundation is a ,NPF with a
mission to save and change lives through the great sport of swimming. We provide affordable swim programs to
families at a low to no cost thanks to our volunteer instructors and the
financial support of Queens Borough President Helen Marshall; Council Members
Peter Koo, James Sanders and Elizabeth Crowley and the NYC Harbor Conservancy. www.theSwimStrongFoundation.org
About Pool
Safely:
The Pool Safely campaign is CPSC’s national public
education and information program to reduce child drownings, near-drowning and
entrapment incidents in swimming pools and spas. The campaign resulted from the
requirements of Section 1407 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety
Act (P&SS Act), federal legislation signed into law in 2007, which mandated
new requirements for pool and spa safety. Parents, caregivers and the media are
encouraged to visit PoolSafely.gov or @PoolSafely on Twitter for vital safety information regarding the prevention of
child submersions in and around pools and spas.
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