Waterslides and jumping off the edges of swimming-pool - leading causes ofpaediatric swimming-bath accidents

Objective: It is the aim of this study to examine causes and modes of swimm ing bath accidents involving children and adolescents in order to establish strategies for accident prevention. Method: In a retrospective study we identified all children less than or eq ual to=16 years who were admitted at the Department of Pa ed iatric Surgery for treatment of swimming bath injuries between January 1990 and December 1997. Charts were analyzed for gender, age and type of injury. Questionnair es were sent to the parents of these children asking for the circumstances and mode of accident and for sequels of the injury. Results: Overall 452 children were treated in the A & E department for swim ming bath injuries, 199 girls (44%) and 253 boys (56%). The average age of patients was 10 years (1-16 years). In 5 children the main injury was a fra cture of the skull (1.1%), a fracture of the spine/sternum in 2 (0.5%),a co ncussion of the brain in 44 (9.7%), a fracture of a limb in 74(16.4%), and a tooth luxation/fracture in 5 (1.1%). Further 27.4% of children had sustai ned contusions, 21.7% skin wounds, 9.3% sprains and 11.7% miscellaneous inj uries. Analysis of 127 questionnaires demonstrated that the majority of chi ldren were injured in water-slide accidents (18.1%),followed by children in jured when jumping off the edge of the pool (14.9%), and children who fell when running on slippery ground (14.2%). Conclusion: Accurate supervision is mandatory for children using water-slid es. A continuous water current at the diving-in area of water-slides could lower the rate of collision accidents. Children should be warned by pictogr ams, swimming instructors and parents not to jump off the edge of the swimm ing-pool into shallow pools or turbid water. To prevent fall accidents ca u sed by slippery ground we recommend a no slip surface on povings and steps of ladders.