Swimming pool immersion accidents: an analysis from the Brisbane drowning study.
An analysis of a consecutive series of 66 swimming pool immersion accidents is presented; 74% of these occurred in in-ground swimming pools. The estimated accident rate per pool is five times greater for in-ground pools compared with above-ground pools, where pools are inadequately fenced. Backyard swimming pools account for 74% of pool acidents. Motel and caravan park pools account for 9% of childhood immersion accidents, but the survival rate (17%) is very low. Fifty per cent of pool accidents occur in the family's own backyard pool, and 13.6% in a neighbour's pool; in the latter the survival rate is still low at only 33%. In only one of the 66 cases was there an adequate safety fence; in 76% of cases there was no fence or barrier whatsoever. Tables of swimming pool accidents by age, season, site and outcome are presented.
D000059:Accidents; D000061:Accidents, Home; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004332:Drowning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D007223:Infant; D011482:Protective Devices; D012621:Seasons; D013551:Swimming Pools