More water safety needed.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)

I read with great interest your article titled "Standard Issue" that appeared in the October 2003 issue of Aquatics International.

Although I agree with most of what was stated in the article, I was somewhat discouraged that there was no mention about the concept, standards and need for "layers of protection," as advocated by the Centers for Disease Control, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the National Spa & Pool Institute, the American Academy of Pediatrics National Safe Kids and Lifesaving Resources, among others.

Recreational waterborne illnesses should be of concern to all swimming pool operators. But we should be especially concerned about the need for appropriate barriers and other safety issues in order to prohibit unauthorized access to swimming pools, particularly by young children during lapses in adult supervision. The need for education and warnings is especially apparent within the lodging industry (i.e., hotels, motels, apartment complexes, etc.).

As if our training programs for the public safety, rescue, EMS, lifeguard and recreation sector don't keep us busy enough, I am inundated with legal cases involving drownings and near-drownings of young children in swimming pools operated by hotels, motels, apartment complexes, etc. Every one of these cases is centered around the fact that children were able to access the swimming pool because the barriers were not ...