Built-in Swimming Pools
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Sports Protective Equipment & Gear · CPSC Code 3251
Down 41% over 5 years
The verdict
Built-in Swimming Pools carry a danger score of 43/100 (moderate risk), driven by roughly 19,924 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 41% over the last five years.
- 43/100
- danger score (moderate risk)
- 19,924
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 9.2%
- end in hospital admission
- 5-14
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 3251 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 43/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for built-in swimming pools - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume19,924 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)9.2%
- Fatality rate0.56%
- 5-year trend-41%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Built-in Swimming Pools (CPSC product code 3251, in the Sports Protective Equipment & Gear category) generate an estimated 19,924 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 398,474 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 43/100 for this category (moderate risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 41% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2016 (32,031 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2012 (11,752 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for built-in swimming pools is laceration to the face, accounting for approximately 43,910 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by submersion to the all parts body (38,078 cases). The 5-14 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 157,391 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 9.2% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer, and a small fraction (0.56%) result in fatality.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 1 consumer incident report filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how built-in swimming pools fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 35,992 | 24,549 | |
| 5-14 | 87,850 | 69,541 | |
| 15-24 | 34,649 | 25,179 | |
| 25-34 | 13,109 | 13,292 | |
| 35-44 | 12,017 | 12,805 | |
| 45-54 | 9,349 | 9,414 | |
| 55-64 | 6,988 | 10,628 | |
| 65-74 | 7,634 | 9,621 | |
| 75+ | 7,311 | 8,451 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Face | Laceration | |
| All Parts Body | Submersion | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Ear | Other | |
| Head | Laceration | |
| Head | Concussion | |
| Ankle | Strain, Sprain | |
| Foot | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Knee | Strain, Sprain | |
| Face | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Neck | Strain, Sprain | |
| Foot | Laceration | |
| All Parts Body | Other | |
| Upper Trunk | Contusions, Abr. |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
23 YOM C/O SORENESS TO CHEST AREA AFTER SWIMMING IN POOL AT *** DX COSTOCHONDRITIS
4YOF HAS LACERATION TO CHIN. WAS PLAYING AT LOCAL POOL WHEN SHE SLIPPED AND FELL AND STRUCK HER CHIN. DX: LACERATION OF CHIN
45YOF TRIPPED & FELL INTO 3 FEET DEEP EMPTY POOL DX OPEN FRACTURE OF TUFT OF DISTAL PHALANX OF FINGER FINGER LACERATION
3 YOM C/O COUGH/IRRITABLE AFTER HE RAN OFF AND JUMPED INTO POOL WITHOUT LIFEJACKET AT RESORT, WAS IMMEDIATED RESCUED SUBMERGED LESS THAN 30 SEC. PARENT CONCERN OF ASPIRATION OF POOL WATER DX RESP. FAILURE WITH HYPOXEMIA, PULMONARY EDEMA ASSOCIATED WITH HYPOXEMIA/RESP FAILURE
75YOM WAS DIZZY WHEN HE FELL STRIKING HIS HEAD ON SIDE OF BUILT IN SWIMMING POOL DX:CLOSED HEAD INJURY
16YOM CUT FOOT ON BROKEN TILE IN A POOL WHILE SWIMMING W/ HIS FRIENDS DX: ANKLE LACERATION
88YOF WAS AT PUBLIC POOL WHEN SHE WAS GETTING OUT OF POOL SHE HAD SYNCOPAL EVENT STRIKING HER HEAD ON SIDE OF POOL DX:HEADACHE, NECK PAIN , SYNCOPY
10YOF C/O ARM PAIN S/P PT'S MOTHER STATES THAT 2 DAYS AGO THEY WERE AT A WATER PARK WHEN THE PT BRACED HERSELF IN A WAVE POOL AND FELT A TWINGE IN HER ARMPIT AREA. DX: UPPER ARM PAIN
12YOM WAS FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF A BUILT IN GROUND COMMUNITY SWIMMING POOL PULLED OUT IN RESPIRATORY DISTRESS DX: SUBMERSION INJURY, NEAR DROWNING
17YOM WAS IN A HEATED POOL THE OTHER DAY AND DEVELOPED PAIN IN LEFT EAR DX: OTITIS EXTERNA
7YOM WAS DOING A BACK FLIP INTO A BUILT IN GROUND SWIMMING POOL STRUCK HEAD ON THE SIDE DX: CLOSED HEAD INJURY, LACERATION SCALP
10YOF HAS BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN A SWIMMING POOL WITH COLD WATER AND DEVELOP PAIN IN RIGHT EAR DX: OTITIS EXTERNA
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
My wife called Custom Pools of DeQueen Arkansas to discuss having them build us an in ground swimming pool. The price of 18,791.78 was agreed to and a contract was signed. Before signing of the contract the owner of Custom Pools [REDACTED] was asked if she had a contractors License and she said yes. I found out later she did not. The job was estimated to take 2 or 3 weeks instead it took 4 and a half months. When the job was finally complete additional charges of over $3,000 was added to the final bill. When the pool was finished my children swam in the pool and complained that the water was shocking them. When I investigated sure enough the water was energized. When the deck is wet and you touch the water you will receive an electric shock. This is very dangerous and absolutely unacceptable. The new pool is basically rendered useless if not a death trap. They performed electrical work without a license that was not up to code especially for a swimming pool. The pool is not bonded and or grounded, there are no GFCI anywhere to be seen. The pool pumps manufacturer says a GFCI MUST BE INSTALLED. This was ignored by Custom pools. Basically I want this pool brought to code at Custom Pools expense before someone is electrocuted. Custom Pools should be put out of business before some gets hurt. Thank You. The information contained here is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that the Arkansas Attorney General's office does not represent individuals in matters involving private disputes. I am, however, filing this complaint to notify the Attorney General's office of the activities of this party and for any other assistance which may be rendered. I give my permission for this complaint to be referred to other agencies when appropriate.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to built-in swimming pools on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are built-in swimming pools?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, built-in swimming pools have a danger score of 43/100 (moderate risk). An estimated 19,924 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from built-in swimming pools?
The most common injury is laceration to the face, accounting for approximately 43,910 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from built-in swimming pools increasing or decreasing?
Down 41% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for built-in swimming pools injuries?
The 5-14 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 157,391 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by built-in swimming pools?
Of all ER visits involving built-in swimming pools, approximately 9.2% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (90.8%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with built-in swimming pools?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Sports Protective Equipment & Gear
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 43/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 5-14 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
