Articles Posted in Swimming Pool Accidents

Kids are out of school for their summer break and more and more of them are suiting up and jumping in to the nearest swimming pool.

The summer season brings the highest risks for swimming pool accidents in Fort Myers and elsewhere — especially among young children. According to PoolSafety.gov, drownings are the number one cause of death for kids aged 1- to 4-years-old. From 2007 to 2009, there was an average of about 390 kids under the age of 15-years-old who died in a drowning-related accident in the U.S. each year.

Our Fort Myers child injury attorneys are asking parents to keep a close eye on our young ones during the summer break and especially near the swimming pool. Parents may be the biggest lifesaver in keeping kids safe around pools. Please keep an eye on children under the age of 15, but especially on those under the age of 6.

About 75 percent of drowning deaths involve a child who is under the age of 6. Nearly 70 percent of those victims are children between the ages of 1- and 3-years-old.

Florida is the most dangerous state for these kinds of accidents, too. From January to October of 2011, there were nearly 50 drowning-related fatalities involving children under the age of 15. Trailing behind us was the state of Texas with approximately 40 fatalities and then California with 39 fatalities.

In addition to the precious lives that are taken by drowning accidents every year, another 5,200 young ones are sent to emergency rooms across the country. Parents are asked to step in, to keep a close eye on our young ones and to help to prevent these accidents.

Who is at risk?

-More than 65 percent of these victims are between the ages of 1- and 3-years-old.

-More than 15 percent of these victims are ages 5- through 9-years-old.

-More than 10 percent are 4-years-old.

-Less than 5 percent are 10- to 14-years-old.

-About 2 percent are 1-years-old or younger.

Did you know that these kinds of accidents are most likely to happen at home, too? Nearly 45-percent of drowning accidents occur in a homeowner’s pool. Another 25 percent happen at a friend or a family member’s pool and another 20 percent at a public or community pool.

Parents might want to keep a close eye on their young boys, too. Boys account for about 60 percent of these accident victims while girls account for 40 percent.
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As Floridians enjoy the spring weather, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been conducting investigations into the safety of pool and spa drain covers.

As the investigation carries on, testing protocols used by some laboratories have been deemed improper, resulting in noncompliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SSAct). Defective pool and drain covers heighten the risk for a Naples swimming pool accident.

Our Fort Myers personal injury lawyers understand the risks posed by defective drain covers — which can lead to entrapment injuries and drowning. These investigations have provided the CPSC with more than 17,000 pages from the laboratories in response to subpoenas from the federal agency.

Many homeowners are uncovering and servicing their pools for the summer season. In Florida, pools are much more likely to be used year around. But that can mean there is no set time for safety and maintenance inspections. We suggest a thorough inspection be conducted at the start of the spring and summer swimming season, as well as around the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act), which regulates the safety of our pools, was passed after a young girl drowned from being trapped under the water by the suction from a hot tub drain. The suction proved to be too powerful, despite the fact that she had been swimming since she was 3 years old.

The failing marks returned to the CPSC raise red flags to Southwest Floridians as the Memorial Day weekend approaches. Anytime is a good time in Florida to have your pool and pool equipment thoroughly inspected. It’s encouraged that you have it checked thoroughly, and have it checked often.

National drowning statistics show that swimming pools can be fatal to anyone if the proper precautions are not taken to reduce the risk of preventable safety hazards. A national study determined approximately 10 people drowned on any given day each summer. Approximately 5,000 children under the age of 14 of hospitalized each year with 15 percent of them dying and 20 percent suffering severe and permanent brain damage. Drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related deaths for children under the age of 14.

According to the Florida County Property Appraisers, Florida has the highest number of deaths resulting from swimming pool drownings in children under the age of 5. These fatalities often occur in cases where a pool lacked the proper safety features.

As Florida is home to more than 1,000,000 residential pools, residents are urged to practice all safety precautions, conduct regular inspections and make sure your pool meet safety standards.
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As an update to our January 18, 2010 blog, NBC reported last night that the second twin, Christian, who had been in a coma since Saturday, January 16, had died. The family spokesperson indicated that Christian would live on by the donation of his organs to another child. This child has not yet been identified.

“There are a few website links parents should access for information on how to keep their children safe with water safety training.”

http://www.vimeo.com/channels/38015

NBC-2 reported today that toddler twins in Port Charlotte, FL were found face down in a pool on Saturday. One died and one is in a coma. A three-year old child opened the sliding glass door which allowed the 13-month old toddlers access to the pool.

The latest study of child abuse deaths in Florida for 2008 was released at the end of December, and the facts and figures paint a grim picture for the potential for child deaths caused by drowning. The Florida Department of Health conducts the annual research report, and found that Lee County ranks second in drowning deaths of children below the age of 5 – there were 6 during 2008. This is the highest number of child drowning cases in at least 10 years. Broward County led the state with 8.

The report indicates that Florida leads the country in the unintentional drowning rate of children younger than 5, and that 70 percent of the cases involved happened in swimming pools. The report goes on to say that state health officials, along with the Department of Children and Families, are aggressively attempting to identify instances in which a child drowning was caused by poor adult supervision. It states that “children continue to die from drowning at an alarming rate as a result of inadequate supervision”, and recommends a systematic approach to prevent further child drowning cases.