ARLINGTON, VA - June 22, 1999 - For many young children, a dip in the backyard baby pool is the quintessential summer experience. While larger residential and public pools require filtration and chlorine to protect against harmful bacteria, baby pools can sometimes escape the safety spotlight. As young children are especially vulnerable to accidental drowning and infection from germs, it is necessary to maintain a high level of attentiveness around baby pools.

Providing children with a safe environment in which to play is an important part of ensuring summertime fun. In an effort to heighten awareness around baby pool safety, the Public Health Advisory Board would like to offer your readers the following tips:

• Never leave children unattended. Children can drown in as little as one inch of water in a matter of seconds. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related deaths among children ages 1-4 and usually occurs during a brief lapse in supervision.
• Keep emergency phone numbers and equipment nearby. As with any pool, adult supervisors should be trained in CPR.
• Change baby pool water regularly. Frequent use of baby pools can result in a build up of dirt and bacteria. Water utilities use chlorine to remove germs from our household water supply. By frequently changing baby pool water, you can maximize the protection that chlorine provides.
• Children should wear tight-fitting plastic pants around diapers (or pool-safe diapers) to prevent accidental discharge of contamination into the pool.
• When taking a break, completely empty the baby pool to protect against unintentional drowning.

When you follow these simple guidelines, it is easy to be safe and cool with baby pools!

The Public Health Advisory Board was established in 1992 to advise the Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council and aid its understanding of water safety. The eight members of the Board are experts in the fields of public health, toxicology, treatment, microbiology and other scientific disciplines, and consumer affairs.

The Chlorine Chemistry Division of the American Chemistry Council is comprised of manufacturers and users of chlorine and chlorine-based products, and other organizations with an interest in chlorine chemistry.