This document discusses water safety and drowning prevention. It summarizes lessons learned from public pools, including risk factors and proper supervision, and private backyard pools, where supervision and protection layers often fail. When a pool is in use, active supervision like a lifeguard is recommended; when not in use, multiple protection layers should secure the pool similarly to a public pool. Community outreach aims to educate parents and pool owners on these strategies through agencies, media, and programs.

1. Water Safety: Ask The Experts
Drowning Prevention:
Multidisciplinary Perspectives
James M. DeCarli, MPH, MPA, CHES
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2. Overview
• Common Characteristics & Lessons
Learned of Pool Systems
– Public/Community
– Private/Backyard
• Lessons Applied-Community Prevention
• Community Outreach Efforts
– Safe Kids Los Angeles
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3. Swimming Pool Prevention Systems
• Public/Community
• Private/Backyard
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4. Public/Community Pools
• Controlled
Environment
• Enforcement of
Rules &
Regulations
• Lifeguards
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5. Lessons Learned: Public/Community Pools
Risk Factors of Drowning
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6. Lessons Learned: Public/Community Pools
Anatomy of a Submersion Fatality
–
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7. Lessons Learned: Public/Community Pools
Pools In-Use: Active Supervision
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8. Lessons Learned: Public/Community Pools
Pools Not In-Use: Layers of Protection
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9. Private/Backyard Pools
• Lack Drowning
Prevention Training
• Unsatisfactory in
Supervision & Layers
of Protection
• Results: Increases
Drowning Risk Factors
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10. Lessons Learned: Private/Backyard Pools
Pool In-Use
Supervision
• Quality of supervision often fails
• 90% of childhood drowning incidents
occurred under adult supervision
(National Safe Kids 2004)
• Approach fails
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11. Lessons Learned: Private/Backyard Pools
Pool Not In-Use
Layers of Protection
• Quality of layers of protection often fail
• 50% of childhood victims last seen inside home,
before found drowned (CPSC)
• 69% of toddlers not expected to be in pool area
(CPSC)
• 77% of victims missing for 5-minutes or less before
found in pool (CPSC)
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12. Lessons Learned: Private/Backyard Pools
Pool Not In-Use
Layers of Protection Case
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13. Lessons Applied: Private/Backyard Pools
Pool In-Use
Supervision
• Supervise like a lifeguard
– Eyes on children
– Not partake in other activities
– Designate another adult for breaks
– Pool parties: Consider hiring a lifeguard
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14. Lessons Applied : Private/Backyard Pools
Pool Not In-Use
Layers of Protection
• After use, account that everyone is out of pool
• Remove any inflatable toys from pool area
• Ensure self-closing/self-latching gate is in
working order and locked after use
• Ensure lawn equipment, chairs, tables are not
close to fence to prevent a child from climbing
over
• Ensure that any doors or windows that may
lead to the pool area are locked and have
alarms activated
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15. Lessons Applied : Private/Backyard Pools
Pool Not In-Use
Additional Layers of Protection
• Isolation fence
• Self-closing/Self-latching gate open outward away from
pool
• Door & windows leading to the pool area, be self-
closing/self-latching and alarmed
• Power operated pool covers be properly maintained
• Keep phone at poolside for emergency use
• Learn CPR
• Keep lifesaving ring and shepherd’s hook in pool area &
know how to use it
• Do not consider children “drownproof” because they have
had swimming lessons
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16. Drowning Prevention Strategies
• Target
• parents and
• pool owners
• Prevention approach
– Pool in-use: active supervision
– Pool not in-use: layers of protection
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17. Community Outreach Efforts
Public Agencies
• Los Angeles County hospitals & clinics
• Los Angeles County Fire Department
• Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation
– 25 Community Pools: Pool safety education
classes
– 83 Recreation Centers: Pool safety education
materials
• 88-Incorporated Cities: Materials (in planning)
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18. Community Outreach Efforts
Non-Governmental Agencies
Media
– 16-Broadcasts/news stories (May-August
2004): ABC, NBC, & Telemundo
– Media Event: Private/backyard pool
• Local officials
• Safe Kids LA
• Fire Department
• American Red Cross
• Link with drowning case
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19. Community Outreach Efforts
Non-Governmental Agencies, continued
– ABC’s of a Safe Summer Program
• ABC7 & American Red Cross
• At-A-Glance:
• Water Safety
• Fire Safety
• First Aid
• CPR
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20. Summary
• Designing Drowning Prevention
Interventions:
– Target parents & pool owners
– When the pool is in-use
– When the pool is not in-use
• When the pool is in-use:
– “Active” supervision
• Lifeguard
• When the pool is not in-use:
– Layers of protection
• Secure pool similar to a public/community pool 20

21. • Contact Information:
– jdecarli@ph.lacounty.gov
– (213) 351-7888
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