Pool Safety on Everyone’s Mind

Friday, April 23rd, 2010 | Lawyer Marketing

Drowning is the biggest cause of unnatural death in children aged between one and four years. It’s not just children playing in swimming pools who are at risk of drowning, but also those who are in hot tubs or backyard pools. Approximately 25 percent of all child-drowning related fatalities in the country every year have had some amount of swimming training.

Those facts take on new meaning now that summer is almost here, and millions of Californians will hit the water in a big way. While every parent appreciates the importance of keeping an eye on their children and remaining vigilant at all times when they are by the beach or lake, the same parents tend to take pool safety remarkably lightly. This is in spite of the fact that more than 50% of all child drowning deaths don’t occur in oceans, rivers or lakes, but in residential swimming pools. A child is at a much higher risk of drowning in a swimming pool at his home, or in a neighbor’s pool, than in the ocean.

The number one step that California premises liability lawyers recommend  to ensure safe fun by the water is to pay attention to kids at all times. Many drowning deaths occur even when the child is under the supervision of parents. Contrary to what many parents believe, most drowning deaths don’t involve a lot of splashing or commotion in the water. In fact, all it takes is a few seconds for a child to panic and down.

• If you have a pool, make sure that you have 6-foot fencing around the pool.
• Install pool safety alarms.
• Make sure your pool has the new drain covers that prevent drowning deaths by suction.
• Make sure that pool furniture like lounge chairs and tables are kept away from the fence. Children can use these to climb the fence and walk over to the neighbor’s pool.
• If you have a bunch of children playing in your pool, make sure that you have an adult supervising the kids.
• An adult supervising little children must be an adept swimmer, and must know emergency aid techniques, like CPR.

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