Drowning is the leading cause of death for infants and young children in 18 states and nationally ranks second only to automobile accidents claiming the lives of approximately 4,000 children each year and leaving another 12,000 with some form of brain damage. A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle accident to be involved in the death of a child age 4 and under.
Near drowning can lead to permanent brain damage/injury affecting the brain’s function; affecting the brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of the body, and/or affecting the ability of muscles to respond to the brain’s orders. https://www.brainlink.org.au/understanding-the-nervous-system.htm
An acquired brain injury (damage to the brain) can result from a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) during near drowning which affects blood supply to the brain. This type of injury will have lasting effects on an individual such as sensory difficulties, physical difficulties, communication and speech problems, as well as other medical problems.
Prevention of near drowning or drowning experiences is the best way to prevent these horrible accidents which could lead to brain injuries. Some pool safety suggestions are barriers, alarms or safety covers for pools. These methods are useful and cost effective prevention techniques to avoid a near drowning and potential death or injury. https://poolsafety.gov/pool-spa-safety/safety-system/
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides information on how to appropriately supervise your children, teach them to swim and provide protection for them to prevent swimming pool accidents. The CDC provides the “dos and don’ts” for child-proofing a swimming pool at your home; and on how drowning can be prevented. https://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html
In Indiana there are swimming pool regulations and municipal ordnances which must be complied with if you wish to construct or maintain a swimming pool. These regulations have been enacted to prevent injuries and in particular regard to children. Obviously, an open swimming pool with no barriers is a sure way cause injury or even death by drowning if the wrong person happens to wander in. All legal swimming pools must have a safety barrier completely surrounding the pool that is at least five feet high with self-closing gates that have locking mechanisms. The gates are to be locked when no responsible a