WTVM.com and WTVM News Leader 9, Columbus, GA | Inflatable Pools Have High Drowning Risk

They are growing in size and popularity, unfortunately so are the hazards.

"They don't have fences and they don't have filtration systems or chemical processes,"says Brian Griffin, Columbus Aquatic Department.

Many inflatable pools on the market are just as big as above ground pools.  But they fall outside of building codes that require fences or barriers.

"If you don't have a fence around it that basically invites any kid in the neighborhood to come and play in your pool,"says Griffin.

Reports say there are about 280 drowning deaths of children younger than five each year, of those, there were 17 drowning deaths involving inflatable pools in 2005.  That's up from nine in 2004 and 10 in 2003.

Even though inflatable pools don't require a fence, experts say it's a good idea to build one whith locks for safety.   Dirty water has been another safety concern with inflatable pools.  

Last summer Penny Hernadon bought a large inflatable pool, only to learn the filter was not big enough to keep it clean.

Experts say you should dump the water out of inflatable pools at least once every other day to avoid mosquitoes and ecoli-contamination.

By Jade Hindmon

jhindmon@wtvm.com