Crime & Safety

Contra Costa Officials Urge Residents To Implement Pool Safety After Infant's Near Drowning

In the wake of an infant's near-drowning in a residential pool in Concord on Sunday, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District is urging residents to take steps to keep children safe around swimming pools.

 "This was obviously a tragic reminder," said Fire Marshal Robert Marshall. "It could have been a much different outcome."

[Previous: Infant In Stable Condition After Near-Drowning In Residential Pool.]

 The infant was reported to be in stable condition Sunday night after being removed from the pool at a Concord home in an unresponsive state.

Marshall said that parents should closely supervise their children around pools but also take additional precautions because it's difficult to keep constant attention.

 "It only takes a minute," Marshall said. "It doesn't take long for children to inhale water, and their breathing would stop very soon after that."

Marshall said parents should put up a barrier around the pool, install alarms on the pool barrier and doors leading from the house to the yard and put safety covers over pools that would support the weight of a child and two adults if necessary.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a website, poolsafety.gov, with additional safety resources, Marshall said.

Marshall said high temperatures are predicted this week and will likely cause more families to start to use their pools for the spring and summer season.


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