As families across Montgomery County gear up for the July 4th holiday and a stretch of hot summer weather, many are turning to backyard inflatable pools as an easy way to cool off. But a local pediatric emergency physician is reminding parents that even small, portable pools can pose life-threatening dangers.
“Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for children 1 through 4 years of age, and most drownings in that age range happen in swimming pools,” said Dr. Alicia Bazzano, board-certified pediatrician and director of pediatric emergency services at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney. “The greatest danger is not usually when actively swimming. It’s when a young child unexpectedly has access to water.”
While inflatable and above-ground pools may seem safer than permanent pools, Dr. Bazzano said they should be treated with the same level of caution. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends multiple layers of protection, noting that no single safety measure is enough to prevent drowning.
Those recommendations include installing fencing at least 4 feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate around the pool, using safety covers and alarms as additional layers of protection, and ensuring children are always under close, attentive adult supervision whenever they are in or near water.
Dr. Bazzano said inflatable pools present unique hazards because their soft sides can cause young children to lean over and fall in headfirst. Even a few inches of water can be enough for a small child to drown. She also noted that many families leave inflatable pools filled between uses, creating an ongoing hazard even when no one is swimming.
Children can also gain access by climbing ladders, nearby furniture, or even the pool itself. Dr. Bazzano recommends removing, locking, or securing ladders whenever the pool is not in use and making sure there is nothing nearby that could help a child climb into the water. If the pool’s walls are not high enough, an additional barrier can be installed around the top of the pool.
“The most important safety rule is active adult supervision,” Dr. Bazzano said. “This is the time to remember to put away our phones, enjoy a cool lemonade outside, not watch through the window, and enjoy seeing children at play.”
She also encourages parents to enroll children in swim lessons as soon as they are developmentally ready, while emphasizing that swim lessons are not a substitute for supervision. Adults should also consider learning CPR, as the first few minutes of a drowning emergency can be critical before first responders arrive.
Dr. Bazzano added that children with conditions such as epilepsy, autism, ADHD, intellectual disabilities, and certain other medical conditions may face an increased risk of drowning. Families are encouraged to discuss additional safety precautions with their pediatricians.
“Drownings happen in careful, loving families,” Dr. Bazzano said. “Most often they occur quickly, silently, and at the exact time when adults are thinking everything is going fine. The safest thing we can do is make sure there is always one adult whose attention is fully on the children when they are in or around the pool.”
