Accidental drowning is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 through 14 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.  Here’s another fact:  It is preventable.

All it takes is a few seconds for a child to drown.  Most drowning accidents happen in the backyard swimming pool, but others drown in buckets, bathtubs, toilets, dog water bowls, ice chests, canals and ponds. Small children are top-heavy and don't have the upper body strength to lift themselves out of one of these dangerous situations. Even if the child survives the incident, they are often left with permanent brain damage.  Anyone involved with the supervision of children needs to be aware of the dangers associated with any body of water.

The city of Santa Rosa requires residential swimming pools to be in accordance with California Building Code 3109.4.4.2.  Whenever a building permit is issued for new construction (or remodeling) of a swimming pool or spa it must be equipped with at least one of the following seven drowning prevention safety features: 

1.                  Isolating the pool from access to the home by an enclosure meeting all of these characteristics:

a.      All pool access gates open away from pool and are self-closing with a self-latching device placed no lower than 60” from ground

b.      The enclosure must be a minimum height of 60”

c.      No vertical gap between the bottom of the enclosure and the ground more than 2”. 

d.      No gaps or voids that allow for more than a 4” sphere passage.

e.      Outside surface free of protrusions, cavities or anything that would enable a child to gain a foothold or handhold and climb over the enclosure.

2.                  A removable mesh pool fencing that meets ASTM standards in conjunction with a gate that is self-closing and self-latching and can accommodate a key lockable device.

3.                  A safety pool cover that meets all requirements of the ASTM.

4.                  Residential exit alarms on those doors providing direct access to pool.

5.                  Any door providing direct access from the home to the pool must be equipped with a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54” from floor.

6.                  Swimming pool alarms that meet ASTM standards including surface motion, pressure, sonar, laser and infrared type alarms.  But NOT devices designed for individual use, such as an alarm attached to a child that sounds when the child exceeds a certain distance or becomes submerged in water.

7.                  Other means of protection if equal or greater than those mentioned above AND has been independently verified by an approved testing lab as meeting the ASTM standards. 

Beyond the California Building Code, there are actions everyone must take in order to ensure the safety of children and prevent needless tragedies.

• Know where the children are at all times
• Do no use water wings, noodles, kickboards or other recreational toys in lieu of parental attention
• Never allow children to be alone near a pool or any water source
• Have life-saving devices near the pool, such as a pole/hook, or flotation device
• Keep large objects such as tables, chairs, toys, and ladders away from pool fences
• Post the 9-1-1 number on the phone
• If you leave the pool area, take the children with you
• Always have a “designated child watcher”
• Teach the whole family how to swim
• Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). In the time it might take for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could make a difference in someone’s life.

If you are outside Santa Rosa city limits, check with your local jurisdiction for compliance regulations and codes.