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Toddler who fell in pool dies
The Gazette
Thursday, August 13, 2009
The toddler who fell into a backyard pool in Île Bizard last week has died.
The 17-month-old boy fell into an above-ground pool on Aug. 4. He died Aug. 6 at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
The toddler and his mother were apparently visiting relatives next to their Second Ave. home when the child somehow walked out the back patio doors on to the deck which is level with the above-ground pool.
The deck, which leads out the back of the home, has fencing on its sides but there is no barrier to the pool itself.
Police said the case has been treated as an accident.
Montreal Police Constable Khobee Gibson said the incident should serve as a reminder to all pool owners to make sure access to their pools is controlled.
“No matter where you live and what the laws are regarding pool security in your municipality, homeowners should take the time to make sure access to their pools is restricted,” he said. “It’s a matter of safety, it’s a matter of life.”
Quebec’s Lifesaving Society recommends that pools be enclosed by a fence at least 1.2 metres high.
Like many municipalities and boroughs, municipal bylaws in Île Bizard specify that above-ground pools that are more than 1.1 metres (three-feet, six inches) tall do not require fencing. Above-ground pools measuring 1.1 meters and less are required to have fencing. All in-ground pools require fencing.
New provincial government regulations for backyard pools – which will spell out new minimum standards – are likely to be enforced next summer; so far, the new regulations will apply only to new pools.