Drowning Interventions

Pool Covers

Background

Some pool covers, designed as floating thermal blankets, can actually increase the risk of submersion and of fatal outcome.¹⁴ These floating blankets may appear to a toddler to be secure and entice a toddler to chase after a toy onto its surface.²⁰ They hold little weight, and such a toddler would fall off and into the water. Once underneath such a thermal blanket, the blanket can prevent the child being seen by parents or rescuers.

A more recent type of pool cover is designed to be anchored to a track around the pool, preventing any contact with the water once in place. These covers are able to hold the weight of a small child, or two adults during a brief rescue.²¹ Unfortunately, no evaluation of these devices has been published.