Just last night (Monday June 2, 2008) a toddler died in a swimming pool just outside of Fresno California. Here are the details:
- The child died minutes after he was pulled from the pool.
- No one is sure exactly how long he was in the swimming pool
- The child of the mother and the child’s grandfather were both at home when the incident occurred.
We believe every swimming pool death in this country can be prevented. In this case, the owners did not have a fence around their pool. While some boroughs and counties require pool owners to have a fence around their pools, others do not. Fresno California is located in an area where it is not mandatory for in-ground swimming pools to be protected by fences. When our pool contractors visit a home to “sell” a swimming pool, we discuss pool safety as much as we discuss design.
Many accidents, like this one, could have been prevented with more initial planning. Even the most responsible parents are not able to keep an eye on their children 24/7. For instance, look at public swimming pools where lifeguards are paid to watch pools - accidents still happen. With a little preventative planning such as a pool fence, automatic covers, and even readily accessible flotation devices, all pool builders can do their part to reduce unnecessary accidents like this one in this country.
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