As popular as swimming pools are, they can be equally dangerous if the right safety measures aren’t in place. While you and your family and friends gather around the pool this summer, make sure you know what to do to avoid a damaging or deadly accident. Thousands of people are injured in swimming pool accidents each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many of which affect young children.
To ensure you have a fun, injury-free summer break, follow these valuable pool safety tips:
1. Never Leave Children Unattended
Even if your children are skilled swimmers, you should never leave kids of any age unattended near a pool. Even small kiddie pools can be hazardous for small children and should only be used when an adult is around to supervise. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children between 1 and 4 years of age, and between 300-400 people die each year in swimming pool drowning incidents. These incidents are always tragic and should be avoided and prevented if at all possible. Make sure children who are not strong swimmers have a life jacket or other floatation device while they’re in the water, and teach your children about water safety so they know the potential danger.
2. As a Pool Owner, Make it Safe
Owning a pool can be a great relief when the summer heat hits, but it can also be a serious liability. When you host barbeques or casual pool parties, make sure your pool and surrounding area are safe and cared for. Any slippery walkways, cracked concrete, unstable diving boards, or other potential hazards could injure a guest, which might end up costing you big in a premises liability lawsuit. Additionally, you could be found liable if a child wanders into your pool area, even if you did not invite them. In order to protect yourself and others, make sure you have a gated barrier around your pool, something children cannot climb, and take the necessary measures to make sure your pool area is safe for visitors.
3. Avoid Diving
Only dive in designated areas that are at least 6 feet deep. If your children want to practice their dives, make sure the water is deep enough for them to enter the water safely. Diving into shallow water can lead to head injuries, shoulder injuries, and can compress the spine, sometimes even leaving the injured person paralyzed. If you are a pool owner, it’s usually best just to enact a no diving rule to protect yourself and your guests.
4. Stay Sober, Stay Safe
Children aren’t the only one in danger of swimming pool injuries. In fact, many serious swimming pool injuries, including concussions, broken bones, and spinal injuries, occur in adults who were under the influence of alcohol. While its fine to unwind with a drink or two by the poolside occasionally, drinking too much could lead to poor decisions and catastrophic injuries.
Sometimes doing everything you can to prevent an injury simply isn’t enough, and accidents do happen. If you or someone you love was injured in a public or private pool due to someone else’s negligence, our firm can help.
Contact the Law Offices of Vic Feazell, P.C. today to discuss your premises liability case with our Waco personal injury attorneys.