Inspections on to ensure safety at swimming pools

The Civil Defence is in its best efforts to ensure pool safety across the Kingdom after 86 cases of drowning were reported in the last four years, it emerged. According to Civil Defence sources, no drowning cases were reported in 2017 while there were 33 cases in 2016, 26 in 2015, 12 in 2014 and 15 in 2013. “Already six cases of drowning have been reported this year. But the official report is yet to be released.”

Civil Defence Director General Brigadier Abdul Aziz Rashid Al Amer said that people should be careful while using pools, which should have all safety mechanisms in place. “All pools need to have safety rings with approved specifications, with ropes fixed near the facility. Swimmers should stay away from the pool filters, and the filters should be covered with nets,” he said.

The official pointed out that lack of safety apparatus was one of the main reasons behind most of the drowning cases in the Kingdom. “Many children were left unattended near the pools leading to accidents.