Report Highlights Pool, Spa Drowning Risks
For many families, a backyard pool is the centerpiece of summer fun. It's where children learn to swim, friends gather for cookouts, and memories are made. But pools and spas can also present serious risks, particularly for young children.
A newly released report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) underscores just how significant those risks remain. The data shows that drowning and near-drowning incidents continue to affect thousands of children each year, with children under age 5 accounting for the majority of fatalities. Understanding the risks – and the steps that can help prevent these tragedies – is essential for every family with access to a pool or spa.
The CPSC report focused on children younger than 15. The agency examined nonfatal drowning and submersion injuries from 2023 through 2025, as well as fatal drowning incidents from 2021 through 2023. (Fatality data is reported on a delay, which accounts for the different timeframes.)
During the 2023-2025 period, an estimated 5,900 children under 15 were treated annually in hospital emergency rooms for pool or spa-related injuries. The severity of these incidents is reflected in hospitalization rates. Forty-two percent were admitted to a hospital or transferred for additional care. By comparison, only about 4 percent of consumer product-related injuries result in hospitalization. Boys were more frequently treated for pool and spa-related injuries than girls, and incidents occurred most often during the summer months of May through August.
The location of incidents varied by age. Among children younger than 5, 40 percent of injuries occurred at residential locations, while 23 percent took place at public facilities. For children ages 5 to 14, public locations accounted for 41 percent of incidents.
Most fatal drownings happened in swimming pools rather than spas. An average of 376 fatal drownings occurred each year between 2021 and 2023. Children under age 5 accounted for 77 percent of those deaths.
In 59 percent of incidents, a lapse in adult supervision – where a caregiver lost sight of or was unaware of a child's whereabouts – was identified as a contributing factor. In 10 percent of cases, a damaged, defective, or improperly functioning safety barrier allowed a child to gain access to the pool or spa area.
While no single precaution can eliminate the risk of drowning, layers of protection – including constant supervision, secure fencing and barriers, self-latching gates, swimming lessons, and emergency preparedness – can significantly reduce the likelihood of tragedy.
Tom Duffy once obtained $36,000,000 for a student who suffered a paralyzing injury on a field trip. If you would like to speak with a top Philadelphia premises liability injury attorney, please contact us. There is no fee for a consultation.