An eighteen-month-old baby boy drowned at a Mt Edgecombe, Durban North, suburban home this afternoon. The child was found floating in the pool by his mother.
Whether or not the child was supervised is not known. The boy is the child of a domestic worker employed at the Silver Oak Avenue home.
Armed reaction officers first at the scene pulled the child from the water and started CPR while Netcare 911 Paramedics responded. On arrival medics took over and attempted to resuscitate the child for over an hour before he was declared dead.
In light of information obtained from the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of South Africa, and according to data interpreted from the Medical Research Council of South Africa, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004), drowning is the most likely manner in which a middle or upper income family will lose the life of a child under the age of five years.
Pool owners may have to shell out millions of rands if proposed pool safety legislation becomes law. Owners may be forced to fence their pools or install covers. If a child drowns in an “illegal pool”, the owner could face a culpable homicide charge. A proposal drafted by the South African Emergency Service Institute has been sent to the South African Bureau of Standards in efforts to force pool owners to enforce pool safety measures.
In general people are unaware of the risk posed by pools.
The installation of pool alarms will alert you to the fact that your child has fallen into your pool. Alarms will sound both in the pool area and in the house. To hear the alarm, never leave your child attended.
Pool fences should be sturdy, at least 1.5m high, with no gaps, breaks or nearby climbing tools such as trees, garden furniture etc. The gate through the fence should be lockable, self-latching, spring-loaded and open away from the pool.
With regard to pool nets, children may drown if the net sags below the water by as little as 3cm under the weight of the child. When the pool is in use by children, stay at the pool at all times. Never leave your child alone. Take your child with you if you must leave the pool area.
If your child is missing, go to the pool first. Make sure that you search the pool and pool area properly. Never leave toys or other attractive items lying around the pool – the temptation to fetch a favourite toy may overwhelm your child’s training to avoid the pool if alone.
Jeff Wicks – Netcare 911 KZN Media