Solar pool blankets: another water hazard

Despite prevention efforts, pool immersion accidents continue to occur all too frequently. In this article we describe a new danger associated with an advance in swimming pool technology, the "solar pool blanket." CASE REPORTS Patient 1 A 30-month-old boy with infantile autism was noted to be missing by his parents, who, after an initial look at their above-ground pool, found him submerged under the intact pool blanket, pulseless and breathless 5 minutes later. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed, and he was transported to a local hospital, where he arrived comatose with decerebrate posturing. His rectal temperature was 33.7°C and his arterial pH was 7.0. Diazepam, phenobarbital, and mannitol were administered and he was intubated and hyperventilated.