CPSC Asks Families to Take the Pool Safely Pledge

As we enter the Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) calls for all children to learn how to swim. This follows the agency's report that found nearly 400 children younger than 15 years old drown in pools and spas each year in the U.S. More than 75% of those deaths involve children younger than 5 years old.

"Drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death for children between the ages of 1 and 4," says Acting CPSC Chair Robert Adler. "Most of these incidents happen at home, and all of these tragedies are preventable. I urge all parents and caregivers to teach children to swim or sign them up for swim classes, put a fence around all pools, and always watch children in and around the water."

The agency is also asking families to take the Pool Safely Pledge, part of CPSC's Pool Safely campaign to help keep kids safe in and around pools. The pledge asks adults to:

• Designate a water watcher every time children in their care are in or near the water.
• Make sure children in their care know how to swim.
• Learn CPR.
• Ensure that all pools have a proper fence, gate and safe drain covers.

Kids who take the pledge promise to never swim alone, promise to ask parents to sign them up for swimming lessons, and promise to stay away from drains in pools and hot tubs.