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Injuries from pool use: Guidance for owners and operators

What types of injuries can happen at water recreation facilities?

  • Fatal and non-fatal drowning

    • Drowning is the leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years of age.
    • Even if it does not lead to death, drowning can permanently damage a person's organs.

  • Spinal cord injuries

    • Impact against pool floor/wall or another person in the water can injure the neck or spine, which can lead to permanent damage.

  • Entrapment injuries

    • Pool/spa drains (where the pool water is being sucked out of the pool by the recirculation pump) can pull and hold a person on it.
    • People's hair, fingers, head, bathing suit, etc. can get stuck on pool equipment or structure and lead to injury.

  • Slipping and falling

    • Wet surfaces are often slippery and can cause people to slip and fall.

  • Exposure to hazardous chemicals

    • If not handled correctly, pool disinfectant (especially chlorine) can turn into gas and hurt people who breathe it.
    • Chemicals used to adjust the pool water quality are often hazardous to humans if exposed to the chemicals without diluting them in the pool water.
    • Some pool chemicals are incompatible with one another, and if mixed, they can react violently to cause fire or explosion.

Guidance for water recreation facility owners and operators to prevent injuries

Proper operation and maintenance

  • Make sure the barriers (fence, gates/doors, windows) are maintained in good repair to keep unsupervised children out of the facility by following barriers compliance
  • If your facility is required to have lifeguards, make sure:
    • You have an adequate number of lifeguards stationed at all times to thoroughly monitor the entire facility
    • All lifeguards are certified and up to date with the most current techniques for surveillance and rescue
    • You provide the training and equipment lifeguards need to be effective
  • If your facility is not required to have lifeguards, make sure:
    • You post rules at the facility requiring that a child (12 years old and under) must be supervised by a responsible adult at all times, and a teenager (between 13 and 17 years old) is not using the facility alone.
    • Provide and keep in good working order emergency phones, rescue equipment, and First-aid Kit
  • Maintain diving boards/platforms and starting blocks in good repair and correct positions, post rule signage, and make them inaccessible or remove them when they are not supposed to be in use
  • Discourage users from diving into shallow water (less than 5 feet deep)
  • Maintain water clarity (you can see the bottom of the pool) as it is important for the users to see the floor of the pool and other objects underwater.
  • Make sure all suction outlets (main drains, skimmer equalizer lines, and other openings in pool, through which water is pulled out of the pool by gravity or pump action) have proper covers on them that are intact, properly secured, have not expired and meet the current requirements of WAC 246-260.
  • Ensure that water drains properly on pool decks and floors of restrooms, shower rooms, and locker rooms, and if you see any puddles, correct the issue right away
  • Store and handle chemicals properly Pool Chemical Safety | Healthy Swimming, CDC

Prepare for issues and act quickly