IMG SRC NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 21, 2004 Release # 04-165 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Eric Criss, (301) 504-7908 CPSC Holds Public Hearing in Tampa, Florida on Swimming Pool Safety University of South Florida College of Public Health Hosts Federal Agency WASHINGTON, D.C. – In recent years, an average of about 250 children under age 5 drowned annually in swimming pools nationwide. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) currently is intensifying its efforts to reduce the rate of child drowning deaths, and deaths and injuries due to entrapments in pool and spa suction outlets. As part of this effort, CPSC is holding a public hearing on swimming pool safety at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Drowning has been a leading cause of death from unintentional injuries to children under 5 years old. To address this, CPSC has set a strategic goal to reduce the rate of drownings of children under age 5 by 10 percent over the next 10 years. “As part of this effort, this year CPSC is holding two regional public hearings, one in Florida and one in Arizona,” said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. “Tampa is our first stop, and we are hopeful these hearings will help create a new awareness about swimming pool safety.” In 2000, Florida led the nation with the most drowning deaths of young children in swimming pools. The purpose of these meetings is to give CPSC the opportunity to learn how to improve strategies to reduce the number of drowning deaths across the U.S. from people who have dealt with this issue directly, and promote awareness of swimming pool safety. CPSC invited local, state and federal legislators, building code officials, emergency first responders, community groups, interest groups, and leaders of the pool and spa industry to attend the hearing and provide their recommendations to the Commission. Scheduled presenters at the Tampa hearing include Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio; Florida State Senator Debbie Wasserman Schultz; representatives from the Florida Department of Health, the National Spa and Pool Institute, the Florida Swimming Pool Association, the United Pool and Spa Association, and the Greater Tampa Area Safe Kids Coalition; and family members of drowning victims. “We want to get input from a wide variety of sources,” Stratton added. “These meetings are an opportunity to find out what has worked to prevent pool drownings in various local areas, and determine if it can be done on a national scale.” CPSC recently began a major pool drowning prevention information and education campaign, which included a video news release broadcast to television stations across the country to highlight the drowning hazards associated with residential pools. CPSC encourages pool owners to have layers of protection, including at a minimum, a barrier completely surrounding the pool, such as a fence with self-closing and self-latching gates. Additional layers include door alarms, pool safety covers, and pool alarms. Constant supervision of young children also is extremely important. “Campaigns like these remind pool owners of the basics,” Stratton said. “An earlier CPSC study showed that almost 70 percent of the young victims were not expected to be in or even around the pool. Close supervision and barriers are paramount in keeping young children safe.” Additionally, CPSC will be revising the Guidelines for Entrapment Hazards: Making Pools and Spas Safer, which was originally published in 1998. The guidelines provide pool and spa owners with information about entrapment and CPSC’s recommendations on actions they should take to eliminate the potential for suction entrapment or hair entanglement incidents in pools and spas. The draft of the updated entrapment hazard guidelines and information about all types of drowning prevention can be found at CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov. Event Summary Who:: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, including Chairman Hal Stratton What:: Public Hearing on Swimming Pool Safety Where:: University of South Florida College of Public Health When:: Monday, June 21, 2004 at 10 a.m. – Media Availability at 9:30 a.m. in the Dean’s Conference. Room Purpose:: Provide CPSC, a federal agency, with information on improving drowning prevention methods to implement nationwide.