Child Swimming Pool Accidents

Each year, about 350 children between the ages of 1 and 5 fall victim of a wrongful death in swimming pools. Many of these wrongful deaths can be attributed to a lack of proper preventative pool safety measures and the general negligence of those who own or operate pools. Following a few basic pool safety guidelines can prevent many or most of these wrongful deaths.

Why Pool Drownings Happen
A child can drown in as little as five minutes, and in only two inches of water. Establishing a safety plan and understanding proper pool safety measures cannot be stressed enough.

Here are some of the most common errors:

• Lack of adult supervision
• Absence of fences, gates, or safety nets around swimming area
• Negligence in maintaining pool and swimming area
• Absence of life preservers or flotation devices

Any one of these mistakes can result in a swimming pool accident or drowning. Cutting corners on swimming pool safety is unacceptable and demonstrates gross negligence.

How to Avoid Drowning in a Swimming Pool
The best way to avoid swimming accidents and to prevent a drowning is constant adult supervision. Having a responsible adult constantly monitoring the swimming area will greatly reduce the chances of a swimming pool accident becoming fatal.

Another key step in swimming pool safety is the installation of a gated fence around the swimming area. The fence should have a childproof latch to prevent children from gaining access to the water without adult supervision.

 Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines state that fences and walls should surround the pool completely and be at least four feet high, with latches that are out of a child’s reach.

Other ways to minimize the risk of swimming accidents include:

• Maintaining a clean and organized swimming area
• Installing an underwater pool alarm
• Ensuring that all equipment is in proper working order
• Making sure there is always someone in the pool area that is trained in CPR or first aid

These preventative pool safety measures can greatly reduce the chances of a swimming related accident resulting in an injury or death.

A swimming pool accident can leave you with serious personal injuries such as a spinal cord injury, head injury or brain injury. Accidents in general can devastate and completely change your life.

If you have been injured in a swimming pool accident or have lost a child to a swimming pool drowning, Whocanisue.com can help you find an experienced personal injury attorney in your area.

A personal injury attorney or wrongful death lawyer can help you understand your rights and determine liability. Most states have a statute of limitations that may prohibit you from filing a wrongful death lawsuit if too much time has passed.

Get started by completing our short questionnaire to find a wrongful death lawyer in your area to file your legal claim.