88
sPn AUG 2010 WorldNews
www.swimmingpoolnews.co.uk
US HIT BY SHOCK CHILD DROWNING STATISTICS
Two US children under age 14 die every day from drowning. Officials at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention in Atlanta have, in the light of the statistics, advised parents to supervise children around swimming pools and natural bodies of water. “This means staying close enough
Pool safety classes can reduce drowning risk
The American Academy of Pediatrics has relaxed its guidelines on swimming lessons for children under the age of five after new evidence that pool safety classes for toddlers may decrease drowning risk. “The policy has always been that children four and older should learn to
swim,” said Jeffrey Weiss, author of the new policy statement. “It was the younger ones that we weren’t so sure about.” The academy had discouraged swim lessons for children younger than four
years old, citing a lack of scientific evidence one way or another about the effects of such lessons for this age group. Two recent case-control studies prompted the AAP to develop its new
guidelines. The research, which analysed a group of children aged one to four, suggests that formal swim lessons may potentially decrease a child’s risk of drowning, according to Julie Gilchrist, a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, who worked closely with Weiss on developing the new policy. “The studies are certainly not strong enough for us to say, ‘Everybody must
run out and get their one-year-old child swimming lessons right away’,” Weiss said. “I wish I could just say, ‘At a certain age, this is the right time’, but each kid’s different, and they have their different needs.” Though the studies determined which of the children had taken swim
lessons, the research didn’t distinguish how the lessons were structured, how frequent they were and at what age they began. Modern swim lessons are usually based on one of two methods. One
approach focuses on helping children develop swimming techniques, but also incorporates safety skills. The second type of programme emphasises water safety and survival, and teaches children to respond instinctively to water- related dangers. And, it was said, there are overly aggressive programmes in both of those camps.
us launch national safety camPaign
A national campaign for swimming pool safety was held throughout the United States because 70 children drowned in June. Eighty near-drownings also were recorded. Drowning is the leading cause of preventable death for children younger
than five, claiming 300 kids annually. The statistics spurred the American Red Cross, YMCA and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to work together to educate the public about swimming safety. Public service announcements will appear in newspapers and broadcast media stressing safety precautions for pools, including knowledge of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), swimming lessons, fencing around pools and spas and safety drain covers in spas.
at all times to reach out and touch a young child and avoiding distracting activities such as playing cards, reading books, or talking on the phone and of course, drinking alcohol,” the CDC says. They also advise parents and
children to learn to swim. “Swimming lessons, even among
toddlers and young children, can help protect them from drowning,” the agency said.
The CDC also recommends
parents: • Make sure everyone always swims with a friend.
• Look for swimming sites that have lifeguards on duty whenever possible.
• Do not use air-filled or foam toys as safety devices, since ‘water wings’, inner tubes or ‘noodles’ do not take the place of life jackets. Toys are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
• Install a four-sided pool fence at least 4 feet high with self-closing gates with latches out of the reach of children.
• Remove floats, balls and other toys from around the pool because they encourage children to enter the pool area.
Public Pressure keePs Pools oPen
Dublin City Council has bowed to public pressure and has agreed to keep three swimming pools threatened with closure open until the end of the year. The pools were due to close at
the start of next year to save €1m from the council’s budget. However, intense campaigning
and numerous meetings were held over the last month as part of the Save our Swimming Pool (SOS) campaign, which battled against the closures. The campaigners urged that
€600,000 in savings be found to keep the pools open. As a result, cost-cutting and
NEW BOSS OF BARCELONA TRADE SHOW
Fira de Barcelona’s has appointed Eloi Planes, as the new Managing Director of the Fluidra Group, and Chairman of the Barcelona International Swimming Pool Show. He replaces Lluís Cortés, who held the position for the last two Barcelona pool and spa shows. Eloi Planes began his professional career in 1998 at AstralPool. In 2000, he was appointed managing director and in 2002, he led the creation of the Fluidra group. In 2006, he was appointed managing director and in 2007, he led Fluidra’s stock market flotation. At the last exhibition in October 2009, Piscina BCN was confirmed as one of the world’s key specialist pool shows with 480 companies attending from 33 countries. The next exhibition will be held in the Barcelona Gran Via exhibition centre, from the 18 to 21 October 2011.
reduced opening hours will allow them to remain open until December. The council is also saving money by delaying the opening of other pool projects. The pools will be under threat again next year as the council is facing a €15m deficit.
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