RSSSwim Safely with Your Kids This Summer: Know the Risks
Drownings in swimming pools and hot tubs claim the lives of more than 400 children every year, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The majority of these deaths, as well as 50 percent of all swimming-related injuries, take place in backyard swimming pools and hot tubs. As many dedicated Texas swimming pool injury attorneys have realized, it takes the commitment of all the caring adults to help prevent these serious and deadly injuries to children.
According to the CPSC report “Pool and Spa Submersions: Estimated Injuries and Reported Fatalities,” the risks children face in swimming areas are high:
- More than 75 percent of children who drown in pools or spas are younger than age 5;
- Nearly 80 percent of children who are injured in pools or spas are younger than age 5; and
- About 60 percent of all children injured in backyard pools are injured in in-ground pools. Also, around 17 percent of deaths take place in aboveground pools, while about 10 percent occur in portable or temporary pools.
Although the number of entrapment-related deaths and injuries has dropped sharply in recent years, the CPSC still recommends covering pool drains and openings with safety covers. Other ways to improve pool safety include:
- Making sure the entire pool and spa area are fenced in,
- Placing locks and alarms on entrances to the pool area,
- Equipping the pool area with proper safety and rescue equipment,
- Teaching children to swim,
- Assigning an adult to watch children closely whenever children are in the pool, hot tub, or the pool area, and
- Learning basic first aid and CPR in order to respond quickly to an emergency.
If your child has been involved in a drowning accident, you may be entitled to compensation from the liable party for damages. Get in touch with a dependable Lewisville personal injury attorney at Steele Law, P.C. today to learn more about your rights and legal options.
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