Preventing Unintentional Childhood Drowning

1
Preventing Unintentional Childhood Drowning
Photo Courtesy of DD Technologies

• The Case for a Four-Sided
• Pool Fencing By-law

2
Presentation Outline

• Key Facts Drowning Injury and Death
• The Problem Drowning in Home Pools
• The Solution Four-Sided Pool Fencing
• The Current Situation Our Pool Fencing By-law
• Call to Action

3
Key Facts Drowning Injury and Death

• Drowning is the second leading cause of
  injury-related death for Canadian children1
• A young child can drown quickly and silently

4
Key Facts Drowning Injury and Death

• According to Safe Kids Canadas National Report,
  an estimated 58 children age 14 and under drown
  every year in Canada, while another 140 are
  hospitalized for near-drowning
• This is equal to about two elementary school
  classrooms of children dying each year

5
Key Facts Drowning Injury and Death

• Near-drowning injuries are often severe and can
  result in serious long-term effects, such as
  brain injury, due to a period of time without
  breathing2
• Research shows that drowning-related injuries are
  more likely to result in death than other injury
  types

6
The Problem Drowning in Home Pools
Sources Canadian Institute for Health
Information Statistics Canada Deaths for 2003
were estimated from trends for the years
1994-2002

• Most unintentional drowning to children under age
  five occur when the child is walking or playing
  near water, not swimming or intending to swim3

7
The Problem Drowning in Home Pools
8
Research shows that unintentional childhood
drowning can be prevented
9
Together we can save lives!
10
The Solution Four-Sided or Isolation Pool Fencing
11
Researchers estimate that proper fencing could
prevent 7 out of 10 drowning incidents in
backyard pools for children under age 54
12
The Solution Four-Sided Pool Fencing

• Key Features of Proper Pool Fencing
• Completely encloses the swimming pool area
• Minimum height of 1.2m (4 ft)
• Covers all pools (in-ground, above-ground,
  inflatable and spa pools)
• Entry into the pool area is controlled by a
  self-closing and self-latching gate
• Fencing designed to inhibit climbing

13
The Solution Four-Sided Pool Fencing

• Supporters of Four-Sided Pool Fencing Include
• The Canadian Red Cross
• LifeSaving Society
• Safe Kids Canada
• Think First Foundation
• Safe Communities Canada

14
Current Situation Our Pool Fencing By-law

• Insert details of your current pool fencing
  by-law or lack thereof

15
Call to Action

• Insert details of what needs to be changed in
  your current pool fencing by-law or details of a
  new by-law

16
Call to Action

• Drowning is the second leading cause of
  injury-related death to Canadian children5
• Municipal governments are well positioned to
  prevent these deaths and injuries through passive
  measures such as enacting four-sided pool fencing
  by-laws
• Four-sided pool fencing is a proven strategy to
  prevent children under age five from
  unintentional drowning
• A 2007 Decima survey commissioned by Safe Kids
  Canada shows that a resounding 81 per cent of
  Canadian parents support mandatory four-sided
  pool fencing laws6

17
Thank You

• Questions?