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WASHINGTON, DC -- Government safety experts believe that warning signs posted around backyard swimming pools could prevent some pool accidents this year.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), 300 children under five years of age drown in residential swimming pools each year. Another 700 teenagers and young adults are injured in diving accidents in all bodies of water, including pools.

The CPSC said signs alerting pool owners and users about the risks of drowning and of diving into shallow water are available from the National Swimming Pool Foundation. The CPSC urged pool owners to contact their pool dealer for information about the signs or to call the National Swimming Pool Foundation at 512-525-1227 for the name of a local source where signs are available.

The CPSC is recommending use of pool signs as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to help reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths that occur each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products within the CPSC's jurisdiction.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270