4 Dangers of Inflatable Pools: What You Should Know
With the arrival of summer, inflatable pool sales go sky-high. There are many parents who decide to set them up in their yards in order to entertain their children. What’s more, it gives them a place to cool off on hot summer days. At first, this may seem like a fantastic idea, since it can be fun and refreshing at the same time. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential dangers of inflatable pools in order to prevent accidents.
To find out what these dangers are and how to keep your children safe, we invite you to read the following article:
4 dangers of inflatable pools
1. Possible drowning, one of the potential dangers of inflatable pools:
Given their small size and depth, many people assume that they’re perfectly safe for little ones. However, even the shallowest of pools still pose a risk for drowning.
Because parents are often unaware of the risk, they often fail to be properly vigilant while their children are splashing around. As a result, a great number of children suffer serious drowning accidents. In fact, this is one of the main causes of death in children according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
In fact, a study published in Pediatrics magazine reveals a truly disturbing statistic… 11% of drowning accidents among children under the age of 5 in the United States take place in portable domestic pools.
To avoid these kinds of catastrophes, it’s important for parents and caregivers to be extra vigilant. No matter how old children are or what the pool is like, pay attention when children are playing in or around it.
2. Installation in a place that’s not prepared to bear the weight of the pool
Before installing an inflatable pool, you need to make sure that the area meets the necessary requirements. For example, you need to make sure it can withstand the weight of a pool full of water and people.
If not, you run the risk of the floor giving out and producing damage to the area. Not only can this be expensive, but it’s also very dangerous for anyone that uses the pool.
3. A lack of childproof barriers
We’ve already mentioned the dangers of allowing children to spend time in a pool without proper supervision. However, little ones, unaware of the dangers of inflatable pools, may want to sneak into the pool on their own.
To prevent this kind of behavior, it’s best to place some sort of barrier around the pool. This will keep your little ones from unknowingly putting themselves in danger.
4. The reuse of water, another of the potential risks of inflatable pools
After one or two uses, the water in inflatable pools ceases to be clean. In fact, it becomes a major source of viruses and bacteria that are harmful to the human body. To provide your kids with a clean and healthy space, you should change the water in the pool frequently.
How to practice proper precautions and prevent the dangers of inflatable pools
Being aware of the dangers of inflatable pools and practicing proper precautions is fundamental. That way, you and your children can beat the heat and enjoy summer to the max.
Remember that it’s our responsibility as adults to keep children safe when they’re swimming. Children are impulsive and naive, so we can’t blindly trust that they’ll know how to stay safe. That’s our job.
In short, if you’re going to buy an inflatable pool, be responsible and cautious .
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Shields, B. J., Pollack-Nelson, C., & Smith, G. A. (2011). Pediatric submersion events in portable above-ground pools in the United States, 2001–2009. Pediatrics, 128(1), 45-52. https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/128/1/45