WATER SAFETY AND THE DANGERS OF WADING POOLS

When the weather starts heating up in the summer, we all look forward to cooling off at our local water parks, pools, and beaches. Even child care centers are getting in on the fun offering sprinkler parks, wading pools, and even field trips to local swimming pools or lakes. However much fun these water play activities can be, as child care providers and parents we must be aware of the dangers involved.

Standing water, found in wading pools, presents several dangers to children including drowning and the risk of contaminated water.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says, “Each year nationwide, about 300 children under 5 years old drown in swimming pools. In addition, more than 2,000 children in that age group are treated in hospital emergency rooms for submersion injuries.”1

Small children can drown in as little as two inches of water. “Submersion incidents involving children usually happen in familiar surroundings and can happen quickly, even in the time it takes to answer a phone. In a comprehensive study of drowning and submersion incidents involving children under 5 years old, 77% of the victims had been missing from sight for 5 minutes or less. The Commission notes that toddlers in particular often do something unexpected because their capabilities change daily, and that child drowning is a silent death; there is no splashing to alert anyone that the child is in trouble.”2

Another problem, which occurs more often and is nearly as deadly, is the contamination of the water source. “Guidelines for out-of-home child care programs have been jointly developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association and published by the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health. These guidelines state that, ‘small, portable wading pools shall not be permitted’ because they ‘do not permit adequate control of sanitation and safety and provide a superior means of transmission of infectious diseases.’” While Ecoli is typically the number one concern, “several other disease-causing agents, including Giardia, Crypto sporidium and Shigella are also efficiently transmitted in wading pools. The transmission of these infections can occur even under the care of the most diligent and thoughtful child care providers as the infections can be spread even with mild symptoms.”3

Recently, the CDC published it’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report analyzing pool sanitation. Unfortunately, “one out of eight pools had to be closed immediately for serious code violations.” Michele Hlavsa of the Center for Disease Control said, "Pools in child care settings had the highest percentage of inspections that resulted in immediate closures."4

Water Safety Tips at the Pool5

* Always have an adult watch you when you are in the pool — even in your own backyard. Never go in the pool if there is no adult around.

* Gates are around pools for a reason — to keep kids away from the water when there isn't a lifeguard or adult around to watch them. Never go through any pool gates when they are closed. Stay safe and stay out!

* If you're learning to swim, ask your mom or dad to make sure your flotation devices are Coast Guard approved.

* Toys to help you float come in many shapes and sizes (an inner tube, air mattress, or beach ball, for example). Although they are fun and can help you while you learn to swim, what they can't do is save a life. They're toys that can lose air or float away.

* Don't chew gum or eat while you swim — you could choke.

Water Safety Tips for the Home6

* Young children can drown in even small amounts of water. Never leave young children alone near any water.

* A baby bath seat is never a substitute for supervision. A bath seat is a bathing aid, not a safety device. Babies can slip or climb out of bath seats and drown.

* Keep toilet lids down to prevent access to water. Consider using toilet clips to stop young children from opening the lids.

* Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. After using a bucket, always empty and store it where young children cannot reach it. Buckets left outside can collect rainwater and are a hazard. Toddlers can fall headfirst into 4- and 5-gallon buckets and drown.

* To prevent children from gaining access to spas or hot tubs when not in use, always secure safety covers and barriers. Non-rigid covers (such as solar covers) do not provide protection from drowning. They can appear to be in place even after children slip underneath them into the water.

* Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It can be a lifesaver when seconds count

1 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “How to Plan for the Unexpected: Preventing Child Drownings,” http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/359.pdf.

2 “Fact Sheet: Risks of Wading Pools in Child Care Homes,” http://www.co.douglas.mn.us/SS_Forms/Day_Care_Licensing/Risks_of_Wading_Pools.pdf.

3 Fact Sheet: Risks of Wading Pools in Child Care Homes,” http://www.co.douglas.mn.us/SS_Forms/Day_Care_Licensing/Risks_of_Wading_Pools.pdf.

4 ABC News, “CDC: 1 in 8 Pools May Pose Infection Risk,” http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/cdc-swimming-pools-pose-infection-risk/story?id=10711137&page=1.

5 KidsHealth.org, “Water Safety,” http://kidshealth.org/parent/fitness/safety/water_safety.html#.

6 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “CPSC Warns Drowning Dangers Do Not End with Pool Season,” http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml06/06268.html.

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