Deadly Drowning Accidents Strike in Portable Swimming Pools
Many area residents are unable to afford in-ground pools or have easy access to public swimming spots. In an effort to provide more families with immediate access to water to beat the heat, companies began more aggressively manufacturing and marketing portable pools. Everyone has seen various versions of these quickly set-up devices, from one-and-a-half foot small plastic tubs to larger, air-filled models.
Unfortunately, the ease with which these pools are purchased and used often comes with sacrifices in their safety. A new study published in the journal Pediatrics recently shed light on the prevalence of swimming pool accidents arising from these portable devices. The research indicated that a child dies roughly every five days in the summer in a portable pool drowning. That statistic only includes submersion statistics, meaning that there are probably many more deaths connected to these pools each year.
The study included descriptions of various harrowing incidents. One accident involved a parent who fell asleep in a wading pool while holding a child. The infant eventually drowned in only two inches of water. In another case two nine-year-old girls were killed when they became entangled in a portable pool cover.
One researcher explained part of the problem, noting “many of the protection methods and devices for in-ground pools are too expensive or not available for portable pools. Manufacturers need to step up and try to help consumers by coming up with affordable and effective prevention devices.”
Things like security fences, pool covers, removable ladders, pool alarms, and other safety features are often absent from these portable pools. A better effort of public education and pressure on pool manufacturers and operators is needed to ensure that many of these tragedies are prevented.
