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Pool fencing for preventing drowning in children
1Pediatrics; Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center, University of Washington, Box 359960, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. dct@u.washington.edu
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 5, 2000
Summary
Pool fencing significantly reduces drowning risk in young children. Isolation fencing, enclosing only the pool with a secure gate, is more effective than perimeter fencing.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death for children under 15 in industrialized nations.
- Preschool-aged children face the highest drowning death rates.
- Pool fencing is a passive intervention to prevent drowning by limiting pool access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of pool fencing as a drowning prevention strategy for young children.
- To determine if pool fencing reduces the risk of drowning in children.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted using Cochrane Collaboration strategies.
- Included studies were case-control designs evaluating pool fencing and drowning/near-drowning risk.
- Data extraction and analysis focused on odds ratios, incidence rates, and attributable risk percent.
Main Results:
- Case-control studies show pool fencing significantly reduces drowning risk (OR 0.27; 95% CI [0.16, 0.47]).
- Isolation fencing (pool enclosure) is more effective than perimeter fencing (property enclosure).
- Isolation fencing showed a lower risk of drowning compared to three-sided fencing (OR 0.17; 95% CI [0.07, 0.44]).
Conclusions:
- Four-sided isolation fencing with secure, self-latching gates is recommended for all pools.
- Legislation mandating isolation fencing for public, semi-public, and private pools is advised.
- Dynamic and secure gates are crucial components of effective pool fencing.