Backyard Pools Research Articles

SWIMMING POOL IMMERSION ACCIDENTS AN ANALYSIS FROM THE BRISBANE DROWNING STUDY

An analysis of a consecutive series of 66 swimming pool immersion accidents is presented; 74% of these occurred in in-ground swimming pools. The estimated accident rate per pool is five times greater for in-ground pools compared with above-ground pools, where pools are inadequately fenced. Backyard swimming pools account for 74% of pool acidents. Motel and caravan park pools account for 9% of childhood immersion accidents, but the survival rate (17%) is very low. Fifty per cent of pool accidents occur in the family's own backyard pool, and 13.6% in a neighbour's pool; in the latter the survival rate is still low at only 33%. In only one of the 66 cases was there an adequate safety fence; in 76% of cases there was no fence or barrier whatsoever. Tables of swimming pool accidents by age, season, site and outcome are presented.

Some hazards of aquatics.

Another swimming season is approaching, and it is an appropriate time to think about some of the hazards which are specific to aquatics. Drowning, a common cause of death in children, is not the only accident which occurs. Physical trauma of many types is associated with activities in or on the water. Most accidents are preventable by proper and specific training. Pediatricians can have a major influence by urging patients to acquire the basic skills as part of their total development. Currently, there are programs aimed at teaching very young children to swim. These are not new: they have been tried before. One of the major incentives to the current fad is the argument that because of the increase in numbers of backyard pools, it is desirable to teach the toddler to swim in case he accidentally falls in. This implies that the parents would not have to worry