Effects of pool-fencing ordinances and other factors on childhood drowningin Los Angeles County, 1990-1995

Objectives. This study estimated the effects of local pool-fencing ordinanc es and other factors on the rate of childhood drowning in Los Angeles Count y, California. Methods. Stage 1 was a retrospective dynamic cohort study of all drownings among children younger than 10 years that occurred in residential swimming pools in Los Angeles County between 1990 and 1995. Stage 2 was a matched ca se-control study that compared pools in which childhood drownings occurred (cases) with randomly selected pools in which drownings did not occur (cont rols). Results. The drowning rate was relatively high among toddlers (aged 1-4 yea rs), boys, and African Americans and in areas with a high density of reside ntial swimming pools. Pool-fencing ordinances were not associated with a re duced overall rate of childhood drowning. Conclusions. Local ordinances enacted in Los Angeles County before 1996 do not appear to have been effective in reducing the rate of childhood drownin g in residential pools. possible reasons for this ineffectiveness are insuf ficient building codes far isolating pools from homes, inadequate enforceme nt of the ordinances, and inadequate operation or maintenance of fencing eq uipment by pool owners.