Summer is fast approaching, and we are thrilled to welcome warm temperatures back to Colorado Springs! Nothing beats the heat quite like splashing around in a swimming pool. As the season gets underway, many families are looking forward to hitting the pool, including hosting or gathering at neighborhood swim parties. Unfortunately, June is also the month with the highest number of reported pool-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Before you dive in, you should be aware of the potential risks involved. And if you or a loved one sustains injuries while enjoying the pool, contact a Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer today.
Pool-Related Injuries: Know Your Stats
Drowning is the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with 10 people suffering a fatal unintentional drowning every day. Children make up 20 percent of these fatalities. In fact, unintentional drowning is the number one cause of accidental death among children between the ages of one and four.
A new report issued by the CPSC estimates an average of 363 pool- or spa-related fatal child drownings per year from 2014 through 2016. Unintentional drowning fatalities spiked in 2017, with 389 reported drowning deaths involving children.
For every one of these unintentional drowning deaths, many more children suffer nonfatal submersion accidents, which may result in traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries, as well as other serious conditions. The CPSC estimates that there have been approximately 6,600 pool- or spa-related nonfatal drowning injuries among children each year for the last two years.
Nearly two-thirds of all fatal drowning accidents occur in residential locations. If you have a pool on your property or have access to pools in your neighborhood, you should know how to protect yourself and your loved ones from these potentially devastating accidents.
Our Colorado Springs Personal Injury Lawyer Offers Basic Pool Safety Tips
You can minimize the risk of injury to yourself, your children and your neighbors by following a few rules of thumb:
- Supervise children at all times. Avoid distractions like talking, texting or reading. In large group situations, consider designating one or more adults as “monitors,” or assign shifts to make sure a responsible adult is continually keeping an eye on the action in and around the pool.
- Learn how to swim, and make sure your children know how to swim. CPR training could also make the difference between life and death in an emergency. There are a variety of CPR courses available in the Colorado Springs area and even online.
- Enter the water feet-first to be sure you know how deep it is. Do not dive into above-ground pools or into shallow water.
- Unprotected swimming pools can encourage children or teenagers to swim without proper supervision. If you have a pool, make sure it is completely fenced or otherwise enclosed with a self-closing and self-latching gate. Fences should be climb-resistant and well-maintained. Alarms on pool gates or pool house windows may also be helpful deterrents for unwanted visitors. If feasible, keep your pool covered when it is not in use.
- Establish rules for pool use and post them near the pool in plain view. Such rules might include prohibitions on running, diving or using wheeled toys around the pool.
- Install covers on all pool drains and keep children away from uncovered drains or other openings. Suction entrapment can pose a risk to limbs or clothing and may increase the risk of drowning.
What to Do in Case of a Pool Accident? Contact a Colorado Springs Personal Injury Lawyer
If the worst happens and a pool-related accident occurs, seek emergency medical attention even if an injury is not obvious. Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries may not be immediately apparent.
If you or someone you know has suffered a pool-related injury on someone else’s property, an experienced Colorado Springs personal injury lawyer can help you recover for injuries or wrongful death caused by a negligent pool owner. Contact us for a free consultation.
