The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission kicked off the 2011 summer swimming season yesterday at a press conference near San Diego, where it also launched the second year of its Pool Safely campaign. At the conference, CPSC officials revealed that 55 drowning and 63 near-drowning incidents in 29 states and territories have been reported in the media during the first five months of 2011.

The Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives campaign is a national public education effort to reduce drownings and nonfatal submersions and entrapments in swimming pools and spas.


At a press conference at the Parkway Family Aquatic Center in Chula Vista, CPSC Chairman Inez M. Tenenbaum, along with U.S. Olympic swimmer Janet Evans and Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox, urged parents and children to be vigilant in and around pools and spas. Chairman Tenenbaum also released CPSC's annual drowning, near-drowning, and entrapment reports.

CPSC Issues Highest-Ever Recall of Pool and Spa Drain Covers

During the pool safely event near San Diego, CPSP chair Inez Tenenbaum announced a massive recall of pool and spa drain covers.

"I want to make it clear that this recall announcement does not mean that one million drain covers will need to be replaced or repaired," said Tenenbaum "[But] pool operators and homeowners should contact the maker of their drain covers to see what action, if any, is needed to make their individual pool or spa safe."

Chairperson Tenenbaum also released CPSC's annual drowning, near-drowning, and entrapment reports. CPSC's new statistics show:

• An annual average of 383 pool and spa-related drownings for children younger than 15 occurred from 2006 to 2008; about 76% of the reported fatalities involved children younger than age 5.

• An estimated average of 5,100 pool or spa emergency department-treated submersions for children younger than age 15 occurred each year fro
• Children between the ages of 1 and 3 (12 to 47 months) represented 66% of these fatalities and 64% of the injuries.
• About 72% of the fatalities from 2006 through 2008, and 55% of the estimated injuries from 2008 through 2010 that involved children younger than age 15, occurred in a residential pool or spa; children under age 5 made up the majority of incidents at residential locations, with 84% of fatalities and 61% of injuries, respectively.
• Tragically, based on reported statistics, 96% of victims involved in a submersion incident will die. Fatalities usually occur the day of the drowning event (72%). For the victims who survive the event, most will succumb to their injuries within a week (24%). Only 4% of near-drowning victims will survive beyond a week, and many will have severe injuries and require intensive medical care.
• There were no reported entrapment fatalities for 2010. CPSC received three reports of entrapment injury incidents during 2010.

The Pool Safely campaign is a key part of the CPSC's efforts to carry out the requirements of Section 1407 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, federal legislation signed into law in 2007, mandating new requirements for pool and spa safety. It includes a requirement for a national public education campaign designed to raise public awareness, support industry compliance, and improve safety at pools and spas.