Abstract

Drowning in hotel swimming pools especially by foreign tourists has been identified in previous international studies as a significant safety issue that needs to be addressed collectively throughout the European Union. No previous studies or programmes of work by either research organisations andeither research organisations or standards bodies have focused on this type of risk and type of swimming pool. The objective of the report was an investigation into drafting a working programme on improving safety of services related to swimming pools. The aim of the investigation was identify how standards could help improve the safety of services relating to hotel swimming pools. Initially a sStatistical analysis was undertaken of the fatality data. This it considered gender, age, month, location type and activity. Other areas of analysis considered the evaluation of standards and their scope, relevance and application. A brochure review analysis for safety issues and features that was evaluated against the site visit. In addition a specific signage review was undertaken. The investigation used fatality data, current epidemiological literature, standards information, holiday brochures and a European site visit to underpin conclusions and recommendations. The investigation found that the historical knowledge of fatalities at hotel swimming locations was an underestimation of the complete picture and there is a need for an incident surveillance system to be set up within Europe. Along with the development and adoption of standards for hotel swimming pool operation. These two issues need to be addressed in tandem with the provision of better safety information for tourists relating to the use of swimming pools primarily through the widespread implementation of the standards being developed for water safety signs and the code of practice for their use.