TYNN26-1-FATAL pool and spa submersions & drownings

INCIDENT INVESTIGATION ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Childhood Pool and Spa FATAL Submersions/Drownings
DOCUMENT NUMBER:
DATE OF INCIDENT:

CATIID: TYNN26 2020

FOLLOW-UP REQUESTED

HAZARD ANALYSIS

COMPLIANCE

PRIMARY CONTACT: Ted Yang, EPHA, 301-504-7838, TYang@cpsc.gov
BACK-UP CONTACTS: Susan Bathalon, EXHR, 301-987-2282, SBathalon@cpsc.gov

ASSIGNMENT MESSAGE:
This investigation is for a FATAL submersion or FATAL drowning incident.
On average, there were 4,800 pool and spa-related emergency department (ED)-treated submersion injuries each year for 20162018, and 269 pool and spa-related fatalities per year for 2014-2016 involving children younger than five years of age. Fatal
submersions/drownings are one of the leading causes of death for young children, but with efforts from the safety community, are
holding steady. They can occur in several types of residential swimming pools, including in-ground and above-ground pools.
Children can also drown in spas or hot tubs. Within the above-ground portable swimming pool category, several construction
designs are available to consumers. In particular, inexpensive, large, deep, portable pools that can accommodate several adults
and children, and large portable juvenile pools with elaborate built-in play activities are part of the consumer market. Also,
recreational spa (hot tub) products are becoming less expensive and more widely available to consumers. The extent to which
these products are influencing drowning data is not yet clear, but certainly traditional layers of protection against drowning, such
as 4-sided fencing, are less likely to be used with these products.
Portable Pools: A portable pool is classified as any pool that can be set up/taken down or moved to another location with relative
ease. There are three categories of portable pools:
1. Inflatables – pools with an air-filled rim and flexible sides that are held up by the water pressure in the pool.
Also called soft-sided, self-rising, or self-setting because the walls rise into place as the water is added.
2. Framed Portable – pools that have a tubular metal or plastic frame attached to some type of flexible material
that forms the pool.
3. Wading pools – pools that limit the maximum possible water depth to 18 inches. Some have rigid sides and
some are inflatable. This does not include in-ground wading pools.
To develop more effective drowning prevention strategies, it is essential to have a good understanding of products involved in
drowning incidents and the layers of protection that were in place. As such, staff is emphasizing the continued need to collect
detailed information on pools and spa incidents.
It is important to collect as much information as possible about the type of pool and the incident scenario.
The latest version of the annual pool or spa submersion report can be found at: https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fspublic/Pool_or_Spa_Submersion_Estimated_Nonfatal_Drowning_Injuries_and_Reported_Drownings_May_2019.pdf?mW8FxiPVFOI3UErKze
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Please include all primary and all backup contacts in the distribution of the completed IDI.

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Person(s) to Contact:
Guidelines: Appendix 75 – Swimming Pools, Spas, and Hot Tubs (Submersions)
Task Number:
Assigned to:

CPSC FORM 324A

Date:
Processed by: lew