Health Tip: Pool Fencing Helps Prevent Drowning

The inviting blue waves of a swimming pool can be deadly for a curious youngster.

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4, the American Academy of Pediatrics says,
citing U.S. government statistics.

The academy offers these pool-fencing suggestions:

The fence should be at least four feet high and completely surround the pool, separating it from the house and the rest of the yard.
Avoid keeping lawn furniture or other objects near the fence that a child could use to climb over.
Vertical slats should be no more than four inches apart, to prevent a small child from squeezing through them.
The fence should have a self-closing gate that only opens out, away from the pool area. The latch should be out of a child’s reach — at least 54 inches from the ground.
When the pool is not in use, make sure the gate is locked.
Don’t depend on the fence alone; install a pool alarm. A child can drown within seconds, with barely a splash. A pool alarm can detect waves and sound off to attract attention when someone has fallen into the pool.

Source: HealthDay