Dimensions and Design of swimming pool fences and balcony - ANEC
Dimensions and Design of swimming pool fences and balcony - ANEC
Dimensions and Design of swimming pool fences and balcony - ANEC
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perhaps because <strong>of</strong> poorer precautions<br />
(Culvenor, 2002).<br />
The costs <strong>of</strong> injuries from falls are<br />
considerable. Nonfatal injuries in children<br />
result in lost time in school, emotional<br />
distress <strong>and</strong> possibly in a lifetime <strong>of</strong> impaired<br />
function <strong>and</strong> expensive care. Several authors<br />
have calculated the economic impact <strong>of</strong> falls.<br />
Total costs are usually very high because they<br />
must include emergency room diagnoses <strong>and</strong><br />
treatment, after-care, rehabilitation (Spiegel <strong>and</strong><br />
Lindaman, 1977). Falls have also some impact<br />
in academic achievement, well-being <strong>and</strong> social<br />
activity.<br />
In Los Angeles County, the annual hospital<br />
charges from 1986 to 1988 were more than<br />
$600 000, or about $5000 per child admitted<br />
with fall-related injury (AAP, 2001). Data from<br />
the US (National Hospital Ambulatory Medical<br />
Care Survey) for 1992-1994 revealed a national<br />
cost <strong>of</strong> $958 million for emergency care for<br />
children who were seen for falls. Although fewer<br />
than 3% were falls from extreme heights, they<br />
would still account for almost $10 million<br />
annually, including 26% paid by Medicaid (AAP,<br />
2001).<br />
The fatal injuries have costs that are not possible<br />
to determine, since the loss <strong>of</strong> a child’s potential<br />
productivity <strong>and</strong> creativity has a pr<strong>of</strong>ound<br />
impact on society (Crawley, 1996).<br />
From 1990 to 2000, drowning was the second<br />
leading cause <strong>of</strong> unintentional injury death in the<br />
USA, from 1 to 19 years <strong>of</strong> age (American<br />
Academy <strong>of</strong> Pediatrics, 2003). The AAP<br />
recommendations concerning this topic are quite<br />
clear: installation <strong>of</strong> fencing that isolates the<br />
<strong>swimming</strong> <strong>pool</strong> from the house <strong>and</strong> yard is<br />
effective in preventing more than 50 % <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>swimming</strong> <strong>pool</strong> drowning among young children.<br />
They also mention that no protection device can<br />
replace adequate supervision. However, the<br />
characteristics <strong>and</strong> dimensions <strong>of</strong> such <strong>fences</strong><br />
were beyond the scope <strong>of</strong> the report. The present<br />
investigation is concerned with the restraining<br />
effects <strong>of</strong> barriers in very young infants from a<br />
morphological <strong>and</strong> behavioural perspective.<br />
<strong>Dimensions</strong> <strong>and</strong> design <strong>of</strong> <strong>swimming</strong> <strong>pool</strong> <strong>fences</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>balcony</strong> <strong>and</strong> stairs barreirs to protect children from falling <strong>and</strong> from passing through, bellow or above<br />
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