“Parents may think that if their child falls in the water, they will hear lots of splashing and screaming, and that they will be able to come to the rescue,” CPSC Acting Chairman Nancy Nord said. “Many times, however, children slip under the water silently. Even people near the pool often report hearing nothing out of the ordinary.”

To reduce the risk of drowning, CPSC recommends adopting layers of protection, including physical barriers, such as a fence with self-closing, self-latching gates completely surrounding pools to prevent unsupervised access by young children. If the house forms a side of the barrier, use alarms on doors leading to the pool area or a power safety cover over the pool.

It is important to always be prepared for an emergency by having rescue equipment and a phone near the pool. Also, all parents who own pools should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

“No one layer of protection is foolproof to prevent drowning in pools,” said Nord. “Use as many layers of protection as possible. Multiple barriers and constant supervision are essential to protecting children.”

Last year, CPSC highlighted the growing dangers of the popular inflatable or portable pools, which range in size from small kiddie pools to pools up to 4-feet deep and 18-feet wide. Between 2004 and 2006, CPSC received 47 reports of deaths of children related to inflatable pools.

Large inflatable pools are relatively inexpensive – large pools with water filters can cost under $200. They often have slanted or flexible sides, which make it easier for children to climb into the pool even without a ladder present. These pools may fall outside of local building codes that require barriers, and are often purchased by consumers without considering the barriers, such as fencing, necessary to protect young children.