Portable or inflatable pools have become increasingly popular for home use due to their small size and low price tag. Parents, however, need to be aware that deaths and serious injuries have resulted from children becoming submersed underwater in these pools in the U.S.
The study, "Pediatric Submersion Events in Portable Above-Ground Pools in the United States, 2001-2009," in the July 2011 issue of Pediatrics (published online June 20), tracked 209 fatal and 35 nonfatal submersion cases reported from 2001 through 2009. Ninety-four percent involved children younger than 5 years old, 56 percent were male, and 73 percent took place in the child's own yard, usually during the summer months.
This is the first study to describe the epidemiology of pediatric submersion incidents associated with portable, above-ground pools. The study authors point out that no single strategy will prevent all deaths and injuries, so layers of protection are recommended. It is suggested that industry develop affordable and effective products for portable pools to decrease the risk of drowning, including isolation fencing, safety covers, and pool alarms. Parents are advised to closely supervise their children and know CPR.
