US regulators consider mandatory child-resistant locks for pool ladders

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is considering a new rule that would require above-ground and portable pool ladders to be child-resistant. This change aims to reduce drowning deaths among children under five years old.

Currently, many pool ladders do not have features to prevent young children from climbing them, leading to preventable drownings. If adopted, this rule would force manufacturers to redesign ladders, making it harder for toddlers to access pools. This could significantly reduce a specific type of accidental death that has persisted for decades.