Even though we wish they were only and always for fun, swimming pools do have a dark side to them. In actuality, drowning continues to be the main reason why young children (ages 1-4) die. Children in this age range drown most frequently in residential swimming pools.
The fifth most common cause of death in America for people of all ages is drowning, therefore individuals over the age of four are undoubtedly not exempt. Fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death among individuals aged 1 to 14. (motor vehicle crashes is the first-leading cause). Age is only one risk factor; gender and ethnicity are also important; males and African Americans, as well as those with seizure disorders, are at the greatest risk.
Overall, there were more than 3,500 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States between the years of 2005 and 2014 that had nothing to do with boating. That makes for an unbelievable ten deaths every day on average!
Ten deaths each day is 10 deaths too much. The good news is that as a homeowner with a pool, there are things you can do to lessen the risk factors for drowning on your property. We’ll examine 4 top risk factors below.
Lack of Obstacles
The barriers around your pool’s perimeter serve to prevent unauthorized entry to the water, especially for young children who can’t swim. One kind of boundary is pool fencing. A 4-sided isolation fence that divides the pool area from the home and yard, as opposed to the more typical 3-sided backyard fence that runs along the property line, has a far higher success rate in lowering a child’s danger of drowning. Remember to add a pool fence with a self-latching door as you design your new backyard hideaway. Adding an alarm to the fence door can also help control unauthorized access to your pool.
Absence of Swimming Skills
Strong swimmers are not immune to the risk of drowning, but taking formal swimming training significantly lowers that risk. When it comes to young children, the importance of swimming instruction in drowning prevention is very important. If you have young children, enrolling them in swim lessons at your neighborhood Y or swimming club is a crucial step in lowering their risk of drowning.
Inadequate Supervision
The value of supervision cannot be replaced by any pool fence or even by years of swimming instruction. A quick and silent way to die is via drowning when adults are distracted in conversation or absorbed with their phones. In fact, having a large crowd around might often put people at worse risk, since the abundance of people present unwittingly tends to take away from the need for vigilant supervision of those in the pool. Unless you have a lifeguard specifically tasked with actively monitoring the pool, make sure any guests who come to your new pool understand that each adult is in charge of watching their own children.
Availability of Alcohol
We are all aware of the negative consequences that alcohol may have, and water and sluggish judgment and coordination don’t mix well. Poolside drinking is strictly prohibited, because the effects of alcohol are amplified by exposure to heat and sunlight. All you need to do is make sure everyone is aware of your pool’s no-alcohol policy.
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Lyon Financial
Since 1979 Lyon Financial has made the backyard resort dream come true for over 500,000 families across the U.S. Through our solid relationships with more than 3,000 pool contractors and our continued commitment to putting our clients first, we have built a reputation as the first choice in providing pool financing solutions. For more information, visit lyonfinancial.net or call (877) 754-5966 today.
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