Panel: Child deaths in inflatable pools increase

WASHINGTON --The number of children drowning in inflatable pools has increased as the pools have gotten bigger, according to safety officials who warn that inflatable pools pose the same dangers as other types.

Because inflatable pools have become larger, owners do not empty them every night, increasing the risk, explained Julie Vallese, Consumer Product Safety Commission spokeswoman. The pools -- ranging in size from small wading pools to 4-foot-deep 18-foot-wide above-ground pools -- appear to have grown more popular over the past several years, the commission says.

Seventeen children drowned in inflatable pools last year, the commission said. This is up from nine in 2004 and 10 in 2003. About 280 children under age 5 die in pools each year.

The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, a trade group for the industry, does not track inflatable pool sales, spokeswoman Suzanne Barrows said. But she agreed that their popularity seems to be growing.

The association recommends layers of protection and responsible adult supervision for all pools. Safety standards for the larger inflatable pools are the same as for other above-ground pools, Barrows said. One of the organization's committees is looking into establishing standards specifically for larger inflatable pools, she added.

The safety commission recommends barriers such as fences to surround inflatable pools, and door alarms if a house forms one of the barrier's walls. Vallese also emphasized the importance of constant supervision.