L.A. COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH - Injury & Violence Prevention Program

Drowning deaths among children occur year round in Los Angeles County
Most pool-related drowning deaths and hospitalizations occur in backyard swimming pools
Most of the toddlers who have drowned in backyard pools or spas were not expected to be in the pool or spa area, but rather somewhere else in the home, either asleep or playing in the home, etc.
Drowning-related hospitalizations can often leave children with brain damage and disability.

You can take steps to prevent drowning accidents in your swimming pool or spa by following the recommendations below:
(Download a Fact Sheet - pdf)

When Your Pool is "Not-In-Use"

When Your Pool is "In-Use"

Ensure your pool or spa has a 5-foot minimum fence that completely surrounds it
If the house forms a barrier, install a separation fence make sure that all doors & windows leading to the pool area are alarmed and locked
If you have a door that leads to your pool or spa, that has a “doggy door”, remember that children climb through these
Ensure gate is self-closing/self-latching and opens outward, away from the pool
Ensure lawn equipment, chairs, tables are not close to fence. This prevents a child from climbing over
Maintain power-operated pool covers be properly
Keep lifesaving ring and shepherd’s hook in pool area & know how to use it
Make sure that pool/spa gates are locked at all time
Make sure all inflatable toys are out of the pool/spa area
Make sure the pool/spa gate is locked and turn-on all window and door alarms that lead to the pool/spa area
Learn CPR (call the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles at 1-800-627-7000 for classes offered in your area
Learn to swim. For swimming lessons in your area call the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department at (626) 369-8693 or (310) 217-8361

When watching children or adults in a pool/spa, supervise them like you are a lifeguard, by maintaining "active supervision"
When watching children or adults in a pool/spa, do not read, eat, talk to others, sleep, listen to an audio headset, etc.
Designate a second adult for breaks
An adult who supervises a pool/spa, must know how to swim and know how to perform CPR
Keep phone at poolside for emergency use
Know how and when to use lifesaving equipment such as a shepherd's hook or lifesaving ring
Have children use "the buddy system"
Do not consider children “drownproof” because they have had swimming lessons
Inflatable toys, "floaties", floatable swimsuits, are not lifesaving devises and do not replace "active supervision"
Pool parties: Consider hiring a lifeguard through your local American Red Cross
After use, account that everyone is out of pool
After use remove any inflatable toys from pool area
After use, ensure self-closing/self-latching gate is in working properly
After use, lock the gate and turn-on all window or door alarms that lead to the pool area

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