S&B Public Swimming Pools Program

Email technical questions about public swimming pools to: pooltech@commerce.state.wi.us

Fax technical questions to the Pools Program: 608-283-7406

S&B Credentialing Unit, 608-261-8500, madisoncred@commerce.state.wi.us.

Swimming Pools Program Manager, Lynita Docken, 608-785-9349, ldocken@commerce.state.wi.us.

Internet search of Safety and Buildings Division database for plumbing, private onsite treatment system, and pools product approvals.  Alternate and experimental pool approval information is available, as is drinking water treatment device approval information.

  Swimming Pool Construction Inspections: There are two required inspections of public swimming pool construction projects, rough-in and final.  Those inspections are done by S&B staff in some counties, and by agents in other counties and in three municipalities.  Inspection fees are paid as part of the plan review for inspections done by S&B staff, or are paid to the inspection agents when done by the agents.

Contact S&B staff for inspections in these counties: 

- City of Madison, Department of Public Health, 210 M L King Jr. Blvd., Rm 507, Madison, 608-294-5335
- City of Milwaukee, Dept. of Neighborhood Services, 4001 S Sixth St, Milwaukee, 414-286-5799
- City of Racine Health Division, 730 Washington Avenue, 262-636-9203

  CPSC Warns Toddler Drownings Happen Quickly and Silently 
 
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has produced a residential swimming pool public service announcement to illustrate what happens when a toddler falls into a pool. The video means to demonstrate what someone may hear.

The CPSC reports there are about 260 drowning deaths of children younger than five each year in swimming pools, and an estimated 2,725 children are treated annually in hospital emergency rooms for pool submersion injuries - mostly in residential pools. CPSC strongly advises that parents use layers of protection around the pool to prevent their children from becoming a drowning victim.

In conjunction with this year's drowning prevention campaign,
"Parents may think that if their child falls in the water, they will hear lots of splashing and screaming, and that they will be able to come to the rescue," the CPSC said. "Many times, however, children slip under the water silently. Even people near the pool often report hearing nothing out of the ordinary."

To reduce the risk of drowning, CPSC recommends adopting layers of protection, including physical barriers, such as a fence with self-closing, self-latching gates completely surrounding pools to prevent unsupervised access by young children. If the house forms a side of the barrier, alarms on doors leading to the pool area or a power safety cover over the pool are important

The CPSC suggests having rescue equipment and a phone near the pool and that people who own pools should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Last year, CPSC highlighted the growing dangers of the popular inflatable or portable pools, which range in size from small kiddie pools to pools up to 4-feet deep and 18-feet wide. Between 2004 and 2006, CPSC received 47 reports of deaths of children related to inflatable pools.

Large inflatable pools are relatively inexpensive - large pools with water filters can cost under $200. They often have slanted or flexible sides, which make it easier for children to climb into the pool even without a ladder present. These pools may fall outside of local building codes that require barriers, and are often purchased by consumers without considering the barriers, such as fencing, necessary to protect young children.

CPSC offers these additional tips to help prevent drowning deaths:

* Since every second counts, always look for a missing child in the pool first. Precious time is often wasted looking for missing children anywhere but in the pool.

* Don't leave toys and floats in the pool that can attract young children and cause them to fall in the water when they reach for the items.

* For above-ground and inflatable pools with ladders, remove or secure the ladder when the pool is not in use.

* Even if children can swim, it doesn't make them drown-proof. Always supervise children using the pool.

For more information about drowning prevention, read CPSC's Swimming Pool Safety Alert (PDF), Safety Barrier Guidelines for Pools (PDF) and How to Plan for the Unexpected (PDF).

Also, CPSC recently updated its Guidelines for Entrapment Hazards:
Making Pools and Spas Safer (PDF), which gives information on reducing drain entrapment dangers. CPSC recommends having a professional inspect pools and spas for entrapment hazards, and making sure appropriate drain covers are in place. The publication also identifies other important strategies for addressing entrapment hazards in new and existing pools.

Consumers can view a video clip and hear the audio clip in this drowning prevention campaign, which includes the new Pool Safety Public Service Announcement on CPSC's Web site, http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07195.html. 

The Wisconsin Building Safety Network is a new name for a long-standing group of state and local officials working together to promote safety and health in the built environment in Wisconsin - since 1915.  Suggestions are welcome on what might be useful on the WBSN Web page. 

Links -- County Web sites || City/Town/Village Web sites || State Portal || Licensing and Permitting || Build Your Business

Email this page's manager, Todd Taylor, ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us or 608-267-3606

The Department of Commerce Safety and Buildings Division is an equal opportunity service provider and employer. If you need assistance to access services or need material in an alternate format, please contact us, 608-266-3151, TTY 608-264-8777, or ttaylor@commerce.state.wi.us