Danger score versus ER volume
Danger score versus ER volume
According to CPSC NEISS 2005-2008, Wading Pools ranks #622 of 838 by danger score (31/100) at ER-volume #679 of 838 (1,290/yr). They are not the same ranking.
- #622
- danger rank of 838
- #679
- ER-volume rank of 838
- 31/100
- danger score
- 1,290/yr
- estimated ER visits (avg)
Danger score combines injury volume, hospitalization, fatality, and five-year trend. ER volume is the average annual NEISS estimate alone. Rank 1 is highest on each list.
Where this category's danger score sits nationally
Danger score (31/100) across 838 scored CPSC product categories
31 Lower than most lower than 74% of 838 product categories
scored CPSC product categories, bucketed by value
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more product categories. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source CPSC NEISS, PlainSafety danger-score model · 2008
Composite verdict
Composite Safety Score: 39/100
One verdict blending 3 independently-sourced dimensions from two separate CPSC systems, each benchmarked against all 838 scored product categories by percentile rather than raw value, so no single huge-volume category can dominate the scale.
| Dimension | Value | National percentile | Weight applied | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injury severity (hospitalization + fatality blend) | 8 | 63rd | 41% | CPSC NEISS 20-year severity index |
| Annual ER injury volume | 1,290 | 37th | 35% | CPSC NEISS estimated annual ER-treated injuries |
| 5-year injury trend | N/A | N/A | redistributed | CPSC NEISS 5-year % change in ER-treated injuries |
| Consumer incident reports | 0 | 0th | 24% | CPSC SaferProducts.gov public incident report count |
5-year injury trend has no recorded value for this category; its weight was redistributed proportionally across the dimensions that do, rather than treated as zero risk.
Methodology: each dimension is ranked against the full population's p10/p25/p50/p75/p90 breakpoints and interpolated to a 0-100 percentile; the composite is the weighted average of available percentiles. See methodology for the full benchmark table.
Where 5,151 estimated ER injuries land on the body
Body-part shares from the same CPSC NEISS injury_types extract for product code 1246. Segments sum to 5,151 - a body-map mix, not a danger score or ER-volume rank.
Two danger lenses
Same-group peer scores and this product's dial
The bars compare PlainSafety danger scores inside the Sports & Recreation Equipment group (same CPSC NEISS extract). The dial is this product's score alone on the Low/Moderate/High bands. Do not read a peer bar as an ER-visit count.
Sports & Recreation Equipment danger scores
How this 31/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for wading pools - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume 1,290 ER visits/yr Below median volume
- Severity (hospitalization rate) 7.7% Above median admission rate
- Fatality rate 0.00% No recorded fatalities
- 5-year trendN/A
Band labels compare this category against the corpus of 838 scored CPSC product categories, see the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Across the 4-year NEISS window from 2005 to 2008, injury counts for wading pools are stable over the most recent five-year window, with the busiest year on record being 2007 (1,519 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2005 (1,074 estimated visits). The single most common ER diagnosis is strain, sprain to the ankle, accounting for approximately 366 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by laceration to the face (341 cases). The 0-4 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 1,661 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 7.7% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 0 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how wading 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 2008-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2008)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 1,017 | 644 | |
| 5-14 | 694 | 945 | |
| 15-24 | 110 | 375 | |
| 25-34 | 376 | 113 | |
| 35-44 | 77 | 270 | |
| 45-54 | 280 | 158 | |
| 55-64 | 80 | 0 | |
| 75+ | 0 | 15 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Ankle | Strain, Sprain | |
| Face | Laceration | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| Lower Arm | Fracture | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| All Parts Body | Submersion | |
| Lower Leg | Fracture | |
| Head | Laceration | |
| Head | Other | |
| Wrist | Strain, Sprain | |
| Head | Concussion | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Neck | Strain, Sprain | |
| Mouth | Laceration | |
| Face | Contusions, Abr. |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
26 YO M LUMBAR STRAIN / BACK PAIN STARTED AFTER MOVING KIDDY POOL*
CHIN LAC, 2 YOM, SWIMMING @ WADING POOL, AND FELL, HITTING CHIN ON THESIDE OF POOL.
PT WAS AT A PARK WADING POOL, SLIPPED AND FELL CAUSING A CONTUSION TONOSE.
PT WAS SWIMMING IN POOL WHEN GOT STUNG BY A YELLOW JACKET ON L FINGERDX: INSECT BITE TO FINGER
SALTER INJURY, EPIPHYSEAL INJURY L ANKLE: WAS IN POOL AT HOME (2 FT)PLAYING WITH FRIEND, BOTH FELL, FRIEND LANDED ON FOOT
MOTHER STATES CHILD IS BREATHING FUNNY SWALLOWED LARGE AMOUNT OF WATERTODAY WHILE IN WADING POOL DX BRONCHOSPASMS EXCERIS INDUCED DUR SWIMMIN
PT WAS FOUND FACE DOWN IN KIDDIE POOLDX: NEAR DROWNING
PT, WHO TWISTED ANKLE WHILE IN LINE AT ***LAND ON 6/05, RETWISTED ANKLE GETTING OUT OF KIDDIE POOL YESTERDAY. D:ANKLE SPRAIN.
PT WAS INTOXICATED, TRIPPED & FELL INTO A SMALL KIDDIE POOL, REMAINEDUNDER WATER FOR 1 MIN, UNRESPONSIVE. DX-DROWNING, CERV SPINE FX
JUMPING INTO KIDDIE POOL, FELL HITTING ELBOW ONTO CEMENT SIDEWALK>> FX
FOREHEAD LAC-FELL HITTING EDGE OF KIDDY POOL-@ HOME
PT STATES TRIPPED AND FELL ON POOLDX RT LOWER ARM SPRAIN
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to wading pools on the CPSC website.
Compare beyond Sports & Recreation Equipment
Nationwide peers by danger score, ER volume & hospitalization
Three PlainSafety-derived comparison paths for Wading Pools: cross-group products nearest on danger score (31/100), estimated annual ER visits (1,290/yr), and hospitalization share (7.7%). Same-group neighbours stay in Related Products above.
Similar danger score
Nearest cross-group products by PlainSafety danger score (100-point scale).
Similar ER visit volume
Nearest cross-group products by NEISS estimated annual ER visits.
Similar hospitalization rate
Nearest cross-group products by % of NEISS ER visits resulting in hospital admission.
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (when Source Is Unknown Building Materials & Home Structures 7.7%admitted
- Sofas, Couches, Davenports, Divans Or Studio Couches Home Furnishings & Fixtures 7.7%admitted
- Bassinets Or Cradles Nursery & Baby Products 7.7%admitted
- Coal Or Wood-burning Stoves Kitchen Small Appliances & Housewares 7.7%admitted
Related Products in Sports & Recreation Equipment
Read with this product
About this data
CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports form the basis of this page. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments.
According to PlainSafety's CPSC NEISS corpus ranking, Wading Pools ranks #622 of 838 scored CPSC product categories by PlainSafety danger score and #679 of 838 by 20-year estimated ER injury volume.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does wading pools rank on danger score versus ER volume?
Among 838 scored CPSC product categories, wading pools ranks #622 by PlainSafety danger score (31/100) and #679 by 20-year estimated ER injury volume (1,290/yr). The two rankings come from the same NEISS extract and are not the same order.
What are the most common injuries from wading pools?
The most common injury is strain, sprain to the ankle, accounting for approximately 366 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from wading pools increasing or decreasing?
No trend data.
Who is most at risk for wading pools injuries?
The 0-4 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 1,661 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by wading pools?
Of all ER visits involving wading pools, approximately 7.7% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (92.3%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with wading 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.
PlainSafety is rendered directly from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall and incident records, no number is typed in by an editor. Product recall timelines and hazard labels are drawn from CPSC recall records for this product. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.