Facts Drowning is the second leading cause of injury related deaths for children under the age of 14. Children under the age of 5 years can drown in 5 cm (2 inches) of water!

Check Your Backyard Drowning Risks

• An above-ground
• An in-ground pool
• An inflatable pool
• A “kiddie” pool
• A pond or fountain
• A hot tub
• A ditch

Why Children Are at Risk of Drowning

Children under 5 years of age:

• Have a natural curiosity and attraction to water but do not have a sense of danger.
• Do not understand the risks of playing around water.
• Are top heavy, making it easier for them to fall into the water.
• Do not have reliable swimming skills.

Children 5-9 years of age:

• Often overestimate their skills.
• May underestimate the depth of the water or strength of the water’s current.
• Are more likely to act on a dare from a friend than to think about risk.

What You Can Do
 

Always Be Within Arm’s Reach

Supervision is the key to preventing backyard drowning. Always be within arms’ reach of young children when they are playing in or around water. Even when parents are within arms’ reach, children can fall into the water, so here are three additional recommendations:

1. CPR/First Aid/Water Safety: Safe Kids Canada recommends that people who supervise children in or around water should know how to swim, are trained in water safety, and are trained in CPR and First Aid.
2. Lifejackets: Safe Kids Canada recommends that young children and children who do not know how to swim wear a lifejacket when they are playing in and around water.
3. Swimming Lessons: The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends swimming lessons for children four years of age and older. Children less than four years of age do not have the reliable swimming skills. Water activities and swimming programs for these children should focus on building confidence and educating parents about water safety.

Install Four-Sided Pool Fencing

Research has shown that using four-sided pool fencing can prevent 7 out of 10 pool drownings in children under the age of five years. Three-sided fencing encloses the pool but uses the house as the fourth side. Four-sided fencing recommendations for in-ground, above-ground and larger inflatable pools include the following:

• The fence must go all the way around the pool.
• The fence must be at least four feet high.
• The fence must have a self-closing and self-latching gate.
• The gate and fence should be designed to prevent climbing.

 Click here for Pool Fencing Diagrams.

Deal With Other Sources of Water

• Empty “kiddie” pools when not in use.
• Install a fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate around ponds, fountains, and hot tubs.
• Remove water from ditches, install a fence around ditches or better yet, fill in ditches.

For More information contact the Intake Nurse:

• Windsor-Essex County local calls: 519-258-2146 ext. 1350
• Long distance calls: 1-800-265-5822 ext. 1350

Reference:

Safe Kids Canada 2007. Safe Kids Week 2007: Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved May 2007, from http://www.sickkids.ca/SKCForPartners/section.asp?s=Safe+Kids+Week+2007&sID=17580&ss=Program
+Update+%23+4&ssID=20428&sss=Frequently+Asked+Questions&sssID=20477