Simple Precautions Can Prevent Swimming Pool Deaths

November 06, 2012

On an average day in the United States, two children age 14 or younger die as a result of accidental drowning, many in swimming pools such as those commonly found at hotels and apartment complexes. Many more children survive near-drowning only to be left with severe injuries and disabilities that change the course of their lives forever.

Drowning is the second leading cause of death from unintentional injuries among children age 14 and younger, second only to car accidents. The risk of drowning is particularly high for children ages 1 to 4, who die more often from drowning than any other cause except birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Swimming Pool Safety Precautions

Many swimming pool drowning deaths are entirely preventable, making the loss of young lives all the more tragic. Two common oversights by hotels, apartment complexes and other swimming pool owners greatly increase the risk of drowning among young children: A failure to install adequate physical barriers around the pool and a failure to provide close supervision in the pool area.

Swimming pool fences are one of the most important tools to protect children from the risk of drowning. Not all fences are created equal, however: According to the CDC, a four-sided fence that isolates a swimming pool from the surrounding area reduces the risk of drowning by 83 percent in comparison to a three-sided fence that simply follows the property line near an outdoor pool. In addition, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that swimming pool fences be at least four feet tall and constructed of mesh, which does not provide handholds or footholds and is therefore more difficult for young children to climb over.

While fences are an effective way to prevent children from entering a pool unexpectedly, it is also essential to provide close supervision any time children are in or near a pool area. Unfortunately, a drowning can occur much more quickly and quietly than many people expect -- even in the presence of lifeguards. Therefore, simply having an adult nearby is not enough to ensure children's safety in a swimming pool; pool supervisors must be highly attentive and focused on maintaining children's safety at all times.

Another commonly overlooked aspect of pool maintenance that can contribute to the risk of drowning or injuries is a failure to keep the pool water clean and clear. Murky water may obstruct a lifeguard or pool supervisor's view and allow distressed swimmers to become submerged unnoticed. When this occurs, precious seconds or minutes may pass by before a struggling or submerged child is discovered, by which point permanent damage may already be done. Water that is cluttered with excessive debris or floating objects, such as leaves or pool toys, may similarly impair a supervisor's ability to keep a close eye on children in a pool.

Liability for Swimming Pool Injuries and Deaths

When a child is injured or killed in a hotel or apartment swimming pool in Texas, the owner of the property can be held liable if he or she failed to take proper steps to ensure the child's safety. While a financial settlement can never undo the damage done when a child is harmed by someone else's negligence, it can help provide the family with the resources they need to cope with the consequences.

Depending on the circumstances, swimming pool owners or their insurance companies can be liable for the child's injury as well as other losses resulting from the injury, such as medical expenses and rehabilitative costs. To learn more about pursuing compensation after a swimming pool accident in Texas, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.

Article provided by Law Offices of Jerry J. Trevino & Associates
Visit us at http://www.jtrevinolaw.com