Municipal Child Injury Prevention
Advocacy
Four-sided pool fencing laws
Denyse Boxell and
Rebecca Nesdale-Tucker,
Safe Kids Canada Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
The National
Date: May 2007
Outline
• Safe Kids Canada - Public Policy and Advocacy
• Safe Kids Week Campaign 2007:
• Drowning prevention and four-sided pool fencing
• Municipal governments
• Build a coalition
• Gather the evidence
• Determine a strategy
• Raise awareness
• Demonstrate support to decision-makers
Questions and Discussion
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Our Main Goals – Safe Kids Canada
• To increase public awareness of knowledge
and action regarding proper safety practices
• To advocate for measures that will create
safer environments and improve compliance
with proper safety practices
• To stimulate local action by providing services
to those working in injury prevention at the
community level
• To provide and promote child injury prevention
strategies and tools to targeted audiences
To prevent unintentional injury to children and
youth
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Advocacy for Injury Prevention
Advocates can take action to make Canada the
safest country in the world to live, learn, play
and travel
• Reducing injuries efficiently requires a multi-
faceted approach combining the three ‘E’s’ -
education, engineering and enforcement
• Safety can be ‘built in’: Safety requires healthy
public policy, a safe built environment, safe
product design, well-enforced laws and
regulations
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Municipal issues in child and youth
injury prevention
Injury prevention issues with a municipal focus
include:
• Pedestrian Safety
• Playground Safety
• Helmet Safety
• Pool fencing Safety
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Drowning: Call to Action!
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Safe Kids Week 2007
Goal of advocacy campaign:
• Increase information to target audience(s)
about the need for pool-fencing safety laws;
four-sided with self-closing, self-latching
gate.
• Build capacity for enactment of laws: municipal
by-laws with municipal enforcement and/or
provincial minimum standards enforced at the
municipal level.
• Reduce water-related injury and death.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Safe Kids Week 2007
Theme: Drowning Prevention
Defining the Problem – Pool drowning
• Drowning is the second leading cause of injury death
to Canadian children. Swimming pools are the site
of nearly half of all drowning and near-drowning
incidents for children age 14 and under, measures
must be taken to reduce drowning in these
environments.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Identifying Solutions: drowning prevention
The only passive prevention strategy that has
been shown to significantly reduce drowning in
home pools is four-sided fencing with a self-
closing and self-latching gate.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
The Problem - backyard pools
• Pools are a particular hazard for children under
age five when the pool can be reached directly
from the house. Children wander into the pool
area when they are momentarily out of sight.
• Drowning can happen quickly and silently;
children who survive a near-drowning
(submersion injury) frequently have long-term
side effects from brain injury, due to a period
of time without breathing.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Problem - Solution
• Many residential pools fencing laws in place in
Canada require only three sided perimeter,
fencing and as such do not protect the children
who live in the house with the pool.
• At minimum a 1.2 m (4ft) high, four-sided
fence that completely encloses the pool with a
self-closing and self-latching gate is proven to
help prevent children from reaching the pool.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Solution
Researchers estimate that proper fencing around
pools could prevent 7 out of 10 drowning
incidents in home swimming pools* for children
under age 5.
*Public pools are covered by separate
regulations
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Snapshot – safer pool fencing laws
International:
Australia, France and New Zealand have put
legislation in place requiring safer pool
fencing.
Canada:
No national laws
No provincial laws in place
Patchwork of municipal laws
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Municipal Action – examples of safer bylaws
Safer Pool fencing bylaws – Ontario
• Mulmur
• Peterborough
• Oakville
• Anticipated in French River…
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Decision-makers
Safe Kids Canada and our partners urge
municipal governments to enact and support
four-sided pool fencing laws requiring barrier
fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates to
reduce child drowning rates.
* Provinces could mandate a minimum level of pool safety.
Quebec has been investigating a province-wide law.
There is a private member’s bill in Ontario which, if
passed, would require pool fencing in every municipality.
This law would require a minimum standard which
municipalities could exceed. As with other
building/permit issues, enforcement would likely be at
the municipal level.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Municipal Governments
Municipal planning is critical to quality of life in
Canada as municipal government shapes the
communities in which we live
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Municipal Jurisdiction
Municipal Government is a corporation that has
defined geographic boundaries and an elected
council. It has the ability to collect property
taxes and to deliver services.
The primary source of authority for municipal
governments is the Municipal Act.
Many other provincial laws and regulations
delegate powers to the municipality including
building codes.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Municipal Council
Who forms municipal government?
• A head of council (Mayor or Reeve)
• A varying number of councillors
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Municipal Council
What does a municipal council do?
Legislates: Enacts policies that direct the
operations of the community through
resolutions, by-laws and budgets
Executive functions: Initiates proposals for
municipal action, administers programs and
policies
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Municipal Mayors / Reeves
• The mayor is usually elected at large
• Acts as head of council and as spokesperson
• The mayor has a regular vote (in some
provinces a veto power)
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Standing Committees
• Made up of members of council
• Provide a forum for public input
• Provide advice to rest of council
• Link council and administrators
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Municipal Government
Fencing laws are typically found at the municipal
level in Canada.
By-laws are enforced at the municipal level.
It appears that many municipal fencing laws,
where they exist, deal with property/perimeter
fencing. Self-closing, self-latching gates
should be specified.
Fencing must also protect the children in the
home with the pool.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Your Community’s Pool Fencing By-law
Does it need changing?
Is there a pool fencing by-law in place?
Is it comprehensive?
Do people know about it?
Is it enforced?
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Comprehensive By-law: Key features
1. Clearly specifies 4-sided pool fencing
2. Requires a self-closing and self-latching
gate
3. Minimum height of 1.22m (4 feet)
4. By-law covers in-ground, above-ground,
inflatable and spa pools/Jacuzzis
5. Specifies fence construction that inhibits
climbing
6. Requires retrofitting of 4-sided fencing for
existing pools
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Action – next steps
Do you need…
• A new by-law?
• An amendment to your current pool fencing
by-law?
• And/or plan to promote and enforce the by-
law?
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
The Incremental Approach
• Changes in public policy are often made
incrementally.
• To be successful, ‘asks’ are often refined.
• We make gains and build upon them.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Municipal Advocacy Activities
• Share background documents
• Letter writing to council
• Public speaking
• Work with the media
• Collaborate with other groups who can help to
influence municipal policy
• Use tools for local action
• Meet with decision-makers
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Coalition Building
Change the local by-law in your area:
• Speak with other concerned people or
organizations about how you can protect local
kids from drowning
• Work together to encourage your community
to require the installation 4 ft (1.2m), four-
sided fencing around home swimming pools
with a self-closing and self-latching gate.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Ideas for membership / consultation:
• Safety groups (Red Cross, LifeSaving Society)
• Local leaders
• Councillor (s)
• Permit officer, By-law enforcement officers
• People with personal experience of the issue
• Public health
• Medical personnel
• Chief administrative officer
• Fencers
• Provincial/ Territorial municipal associations
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Pro and Con – understanding stakeholders
• Advocates
• Stakeholders
• Decision-makers
• Influencers
• Opponents – *Be prepared with counter-
arguments
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Pool Fencing - known supporters
• Safe Kids Canada
• Safe Kids Worldwide
• The World Health Organization
• Canadian Red Cross
• Life Saving Society
• Pool And Hot Tub Council of Canada
• Safe Communities Canada
• SMARTRISK
• ThinkFirst Canada
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Supporters continued
• Institut national de santé publique du Québec
• MPP Lou Rinaldi, Northumberland, Ontario
• AHSC Trauma Program
• Alberta Centre for Injury Prevention and Control
• Atlantic Network for Injury Prevention
• IMPACT, Manitoba
• BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit
• Plan-it-Safe, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
• Child Safety Link, Nova Scotia
• Canadian Parents (81% Sick Children
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for
majority of those polled)
Public Support – National Survey
Safe Kids Canada worked with Decima Research to
understand how Canadian parents feel about
mandatory safer pool fencing.
Participants were asked:
“Would you approve changing laws to make four-
sided fencing around swimming pools mandatory?”.
Results: A resounding 81 per cent would approve
changing laws to make four-sided fencing around
home swimming pools mandatory. Nearly half (48
per cent) of Canadian parents polled have a pool, a
spa, or a hot tub.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Gather the Information
Pull together the information that you need to
make your case:
• Research
• Drowning facts
• Benefits of fencing
• Costs of fencing
• Costs of doing nothing
• Local stories and opinion
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Plan Your Strategy
Plan your strategy* to influence decision-
makers.
Use the resources at your disposal to make
change:
• Human
• Financial
• Tools
• Templates
*see our municipal guide
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Plan
• Target people
• Target dates
• Delegate tasks
• Strategy development:
• Who, how, where, when*
*Timing can be important think about election
schedules etc.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Public Support - Local
Garner and demonstrate support in your
community:
• Petitions
• Testimonials
• Letters of support
• Public meetings / surveys
• Committee participation
Familiarize yourself with arguments for and
against mandatory pool fencing - see the
‘Frequently Asked Questions’ included in your
partner update.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Meetings with Politicians
Build Rapport:
• Learn what you can about them and their record on
safety issues before you go
• Position yourself as a resource
• Be organized to provide key messages and
information (facts sheets, briefing notes)
• Position the issue in the context of politician’s
constituents and the municipality’s strategic plan
• Try to keep meeting small, be aware of how much
time you have
• Debrief, prompt follow-up with letter & thank you
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Presenting to Council
• Consider making an appearance or ‘delegation’
in front of council. Council meetings are
generally open to the public. You may be
required to register your intention to present,
submit a letter and/or brief prior to an
appearance.
• Councils may also hold meetings to talks about
particular issues.
• Be prepared with your presentation – respect
time limits.
• Be prepared to answer questions that the
council may have about your proposal.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Ask your representative to take action
• Encourage your municipal councillor, alderman,
mayor or reeve to present the proposed by-
law to council.
• Equip your representative with a presentation
and the specific wording for the new by-law,
amendment or resolution.
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Resources – templates and tools
Safe Kids Week 2007 Resources:
• Petition form
• Model by-law and checklist
• Fact sheet
• Discussion document
• Fencing diagrams
• Chart of current pool fencing laws
• Sample letter (To send to Council –
personalized letters are best!)
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Resources – templates and tools
• Matte story
• Presentation on pool fencing
• Municipal Advocacy Guide
• Sample resolution
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• SKW 2007 partner updates
• Sample pamphlets: pool fencing and by-law
compliance
www.safekidscanada.ca
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Discussion
• Outstanding issues
• Questions
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children
Thank you!
Thank you all for joining us!
Safe Kids Canada/SecuriJeunes Canada
1-888 SAFE TIPS
(1-888-723-3847)
www.safekidscanada.ca/www.securijeunescanada.ca
fax: 416-813-4986
The National Injury Prevention Program of the Hospital for Sick Children