Preventing Preventing Unintentional Unintentional

Childhood DrowningChildhood Drowning

The Case for a Four-Sided The Case for a Four-Sided

Pool Fencing By-lawPool Fencing By-law

Photo Courtesy of D&D Technologies

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

Key Facts: Drowning Injury and DeathKey Facts: Drowning Injury and Death

The Problem: Drowning in Home PoolsThe Problem: Drowning in Home Pools

The Solution: Four-Sided Pool FencingThe Solution: Four-Sided Pool Fencing

The Current Situation: Our Pool Fencing By-The Current Situation: Our Pool Fencing By-lawlaw

Call to ActionCall to Action

Key Facts: Drowning Injury and Key Facts: Drowning Injury and DeathDeath

Drowning is the second leading Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death for cause of injury-related death for Canadian childrenCanadian children11

A young child can drown quickly and A young child can drown quickly and silentlysilently

Key Facts: Drowning Injury and Key Facts: Drowning Injury and DeathDeath

According to Safe Kids According to Safe Kids Canada’s National Canada’s National Report, an estimated Report, an estimated 58 children age 14 and 58 children age 14 and under drown every under drown every year in Canada, while year in Canada, while another 140 are another 140 are hospitalized for near-hospitalized for near-drowningdrowning

This is equal to about This is equal to about two elementary school two elementary school classrooms of children classrooms of children dying each yeardying each year

Key Facts: Drowning Injury and Key Facts: Drowning Injury and DeathDeath

Near-drowning injuries are often Near-drowning injuries are often severe and can result in serious long-severe and can result in serious long-term effects, such as brain injury, due term effects, such as brain injury, due to a period of time without breathingto a period of time without breathing22

Research shows that drowning-Research shows that drowning-related injuries are more likely to related injuries are more likely to result in death than other injury typesresult in death than other injury types

The Problem: Drowning in The Problem: Drowning in Home PoolsHome Pools

Most unintentional drowning to children under age Most unintentional drowning to children under age five occur when the child is walking or playing near five occur when the child is walking or playing near water, not swimming or intending to swimwater, not swimming or intending to swim33

Sources: Canadian Institute for Health Information; Statistics Canada [Deaths for 2003 were estimated from trends for the years 1994-2002]

The Problem: Drowning in The Problem: Drowning in Home PoolsHome Pools

Research shows that Research shows that unintentional childhood unintentional childhood

drowning can be drowning can be prevented…prevented…

……Together we can Together we can save save lives!lives!

The Solution: Four-Sided or The Solution: Four-Sided or Isolation Pool FencingIsolation Pool Fencing

Researchers estimate that Researchers estimate that proper fencing could proper fencing could

prevent prevent 7 out of 107 out of 10 drowning drowning

incidents in backyard pools incidents in backyard pools for children under age 5for children under age 544

The Solution: Four-Sided Pool The Solution: Four-Sided Pool FencingFencing

Key Features of Proper Pool Fencing:Key Features of Proper Pool Fencing:

Completely encloses the swimming pool areaCompletely encloses the swimming pool area

Minimum height of 1.2m (4 ft)Minimum height of 1.2m (4 ft)

Covers all pools (in-ground, above-ground, Covers all pools (in-ground, above-ground, inflatable and spa pools)inflatable and spa pools)

Entry into the pool area is controlled by a self-Entry into the pool area is controlled by a self-closing and self-latching gateclosing and self-latching gate

Fencing designed to inhibit climbingFencing designed to inhibit climbing

The Solution: Four-Sided Pool The Solution: Four-Sided Pool FencingFencing

Supporters of Four-Sided Pool Fencing Include:Supporters of Four-Sided Pool Fencing Include:

The Canadian Red CrossThe Canadian Red Cross

LifeSaving SocietyLifeSaving Society

Safe Kids CanadaSafe Kids Canada

Think First FoundationThink First Foundation

Safe Communities CanadaSafe Communities Canada

Current Situation: Our Pool Fencing By-Current Situation: Our Pool Fencing By-lawlaw

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

Call to ActionCall to Action

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

Call to ActionCall to Action

Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death to Canadian childrenrelated death to Canadian children55

Municipal governments are well positioned to Municipal governments are well positioned to prevent these deaths and injuries through prevent these deaths and injuries through passivepassive measures such as enacting four-sided pool measures such as enacting four-sided pool fencing by-lawsfencing by-laws

Four-sided pool fencing is a proven strategy to Four-sided pool fencing is a proven strategy to prevent children under age five from prevent children under age five from unintentional drowningunintentional drowning

A 2007 Decima survey commissioned by Safe A 2007 Decima survey commissioned by Safe Kids Canada shows that a resounding 81 per cent Kids Canada shows that a resounding 81 per cent of Canadian parents support mandatory four-of Canadian parents support mandatory four-sided pool fencing lawssided pool fencing laws66

Thank YouThank You

Questions?Questions?