Dimensions and Design of swimming pool fences and balcony - ANEC

Information about the risk of drowning, on the
other hand, showed that infants are most likely
to drown in bathtubs, toddlers in swimming
pools, and other children in other freshwater
sites (National Institute of Child Health and
Human Development, 2001). It is quite clear that
the prevention of drowning is closely connected
to the devices that limit access to the water, and
that in the case of toddlers the nature and
structure of restraining devices must be carefully
analyzed. The risk of drowning in bathtubs was
also analyzed in the present report, leading to
the introduction of barriers that simulated
bathtubs height. The main risk in this case was
not the risk of falling but the risk of drowning.
2.3.9.2 Consequences
Data from the US Safe Kids Campaign (in AAP,
2001) indicated that falls can account for 9
million treatments in emergency units that do
not require hospitalization. Despite these
numbers and the fact that falls are the leading
cause of injury in children, they are rarely fatal
in children. Falls from a second floor or higher
(more than 6.7 m) and falls into hard surfaces
may lead to death. Many fatalities occur in falls
from around 10 m, while falls from first and
second floor, although non-fatal, may provoke
serious injuries. Falling from balconies and
windows are a part of these accidents.
The AAP (2001) has analysed data from the CPSC
(US Consumer Product Safety Commission)
relative to children who fell from windows in
1993. These data indicate that around 90% of
all falls derive from falls of less than 7 m. Nearly
50% of these accidents were classified as
“serious” such as fractures, intracranial
haemorrhages and internal lesions. The most
frequent injuries were head injuries followed by
fractures of the extremities (Mayer et al., 2006;
Istre et al., 2003; Lallier, Bouchard, St-Vil,
Dupont, & Tucci, 1999; Wang, Kim, Griffith,
Summers, McComb, Levy & Mahour, 2001; Vish,
Powell, Wiltsek, & Sheehan, 2005). Children
between 1 and 3 years of age may fall from all
storeys. Older children (4-6 yr) fall from smaller
heights. This trend may be explained by the fact
that younger children cannot fully evaluate the
impact of falling from different heights. Older
children, on the other hand, can discriminate
depth and height more accurately, and,
accordingly, they can also anticipate negative
impacts of falling from higher places. Risky
behaviours in more dangerous conditions are
less likely to occur.
In general, falling from greater heights lead
to more severe injuries. However, the nature
of the surface onto which the child falls and
the degree to which the fall is broken on the
way down modify the pattern and severity
of injuries (Sieben, Leavitt, & French, 1971;
AAP, 2001). Even though the potential for
serious injury is superior as the height
increases, the number of injuries from lowheight
falls is much greater, presumably due to
much larger exposure to this type of danger and
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Faculdade de Motricidade Humana
Universidade Técnica de Lisboa