Every summer many parents rush out to their nearest retail or big-box store to buy portable children's swimming pools or "kiddie pools." Many of us have had our own fun memories making up different water games in these shallow pools, but many us do not realize the personal injury risks that kiddie pools present.

Though portable kiddie pools look innocent enough because of their colorful design, small size, low-cost and easiness to use, many parents do not think about the dangers that portable pools present. When it comes to pool safety, the minds of most parents are focused on the deep-end of public swimming pools or private in-ground pools. A recent study shows that portable children's pools can present the same dangers as deeper permanent in-ground pools.

Researchers looked at the number of drowning and near drowning accidents involving children ages 12 years and younger and discovered there were 244 water safety incidents in kiddie pools involving young children between 2001 and 2009. Of the incidents there were 209 drowning deaths and 35 near drowning accidents. The great majority of the incidents involved children younger than five and three-quarters of the drowning and near drowning incidents occurred in the children's own yards.

According to the lead author of the study, it only takes a few inches of water and a couple of minutes for a child to drown. Some portable pools that are inflatable with soft sides can be up to four feet deep.

The best method to prevent near drowning and drowning events is constant adult supervision. In more than half of the incidents in which children drowned in portable pools there was not any adult supervision.

Source: healthland.time.com, "Study: Portable kiddie pools kill a child every five days," Meredith Melnick, 6/20/11