Pool Safety and Accident Liability
As summer approaches and temperatures begin to climb, it’s time to unpack the bathing suits, get out the sunscreen, and head to the pool. While a day swimming and relaxing by the pool with the family is a great way to spend those hot and humid days, pools can come with a lot of safety risks, and possibly leave you liable if a visitor is injured in a pool that you own. Here are few facts and safety tips for you to keep in mind this summer as family and friends gather around your pool for those long, lazy summer days.
Water Injury Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
- Drowning is the fifth main cause of accidental injury death.
- Drowning is the second main cause of injury death for children ages 1 – 14.
- Approximately one of every five drowning victims are children 14 or younger; for every child that dies due to drowning, five children will visit the emergency department for nonfatal water injuries.
- Greater than half of people who drown and are seen in an emergency room must be hospitalized, and often experience brain trauma.
Non-fatal pool injuries can often be serious and life changing. People can suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI) that can cause cognitive deficits such as learning disabilities and memory problems, or in severe cases, loss of activity such as persistent vegetative state. In rare instances, suction from swimming pool drains have caused evisceration of the intestines.
Individuals who suffer swimming pool injuries, or loved ones of families who drown, or die due to swimming pool related injuries may be entitled to compensation from the owner, manufacturer, or installer. As a pool owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that the pool is safe for visitors, especially children.
Tips for Pool Safety
- Here are a few tips to promote safety at the pool so that everyone has a safe and enjoyable time:
- Teach your children how to swim and appropriate pool safety behaviors.
- Maintain your pool to make sure it is safe for people to use.
- Install barriers, such as fencing, to prevent children from wandering too close and falling in when there is no adult supervision.
- Ensure that there is adequate supervision of guests, especially children, when they are using your pool.
- Keep a phone near the pool so that you can quickly contact emergency services in the event of an accident.
- Learn CPR so that you can immediately begin resuscitation efforts if someone stops breathing rather than wait for 911 services to arrive.
- Store safety equipment close by, such as floatation devices and scissors to cut trapped hair or clothing.
- Prevent children from swimming near drains or entrapments.
If you or a loved one was injured in a swimming pool, or died from a pool related accident, you may be entitled to compensation for costs associated with medical treatment, lost wages, and other related expenses. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Barth, Ballenger, and Lewis can assist you in getting the compensation you deserve to help make your life manageable again. Contact us to discuss your options today!