Swimming Pool Safety

If your toddler falls in the swimming pool, you would expect to hear a splash sound or a scream. What you will really hear is a muted splash sound. It happens quickly and silently. About 260 children younger than five years old drown in swimming pools each year.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department strongly advises that parents use layers of protection around the swimming pool to prevent their children from becoming a drowning victim. Adopting layers of protection that include physical barriers such as a fence with self-closing, self-latching gates that completely surround the pool. This will prevent access by unsupervised children. Use alarms on doors leading to the pool area or a power safety cover over the pool. Also, have emergency rescue equipment on hand and always be prepared for an emergency.

The Santa Barbara County Fire Department reminds swimming pool owners that since every second counts when searching for a missing child, check the swimming pool first