Just a few inches of water in a kiddie pool are enough to drown a child.

“When we think of pool risks, we think of the big pools, complete with deep ends, diving boards and swim parties,” said Michelle Fulton, Sarah Bush Lincoln Nurse Practitioner. 

“But more than 10 percent of pool-related deaths in young children occur in what are best known as ‘kiddie pools.’ These include inflatables, plastic wading pools and larger above-ground pools.”

Whether the pool is small or large, there are steps adults should take to reduce children’s risk of drowning, she said. For instance:

• Constantly supervise children when they’re in and around a pool. 
• Have a phone by the pool in case of emergency. 
• Around large pools, make sure there’s a fence that’s at least 4 feet high with a latched gate. 
• Have life preservers by the pool and learn CPR. 
• Drain kiddie pools when they’re not in use and remove toys from kiddie pools when children aren’t in them. Toys can be irresistible to small children, who have no concept of personal risk, Fulton said.

“There is no magic bullet to prevent these horrors. So stock your safety arsenal with layers of prevention so that summer fun doesn’t turn tragic,” Fulton stated.

Michelle Fulton, APN

Sarah Bush Lincoln Newton Clinic

Michelle Fulton is always accepting new patients at the Sarah Bush Lincoln Newton Clinic. To make an appointment with her contact the clinic at (618) 783-3800 or click here.