Drowning the Leading Cause of Death for Children Under Five
Summer fun can be deadly if children aren't properly supervised around pools and pool safety isn't practiced.
August 22, 2012
Swimming pools are a popular place for kids of all ages to spend their summer vacations. Drowning, however, is a real concern, especially for small children. In fact, it is the leading cause of death among kids ages one to four.Drowning Prevention
There were about 3,500 accidental drowning deaths per year between 2005 and 2009. This amounts to approximately 10 lives lost each day. Even more tragically, children account for about 20 percent of those deaths.
There are many ways to keep children safe at the swimming pool, including:
- Put barriers around pools to keep kids out
- Always closely supervise children when they are in or around pools
- Make sure children have formal swimming lessons
- Lock up gates surrounding swimming pools
- If the pool is emptied at the end of the season, ensure that it is completely drained, and keep drains open so rainwater will not collect
- Learn CPR
- Use and encourage safety devices such as life jackets and water wings
- Install alarms on all doors leading to the pool area, and make sure they are working by regularly testing them
Obviously, swimming pool safety is important, but pools are not the only place where children are at risk for drowning. Since children can drown in just a few inches of liquid, parents must be careful when very small children are around bathtubs, large buckets, washbasins, full sinks, washing machines and toilets. And, while swimming pools are the most dangerous for young children, the number of drownings in natural water increases with age.
Homeowners May be Liable
Homeowners may be responsible for injuries or drownings that occur in their swimming pools. Children are more likely to drown in swimming pools, and private pools are more dangerous with 84 percent of drowning deaths of children age five and under occurring at home. If a drowning occurs at another person's home that homeowner may be liable for any injuries or deaths that result depending on the circumstances. Parents of drowning victims may want to consider contacting a personal injury attorney to determine if they can recover for their losses.
Article provided by Neufeld, Kleinberg & Pinkiert, PA
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