drowning prevention

SWFL Drowning Prevention in Focus

August 1, 2023 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Florida has more than 1.5 millions swimming pools. Many of these are residential pools, but many resort, hotel and public pools and hot tubs are available for year-around enjoyment.

Our Florida swimming pool accident attorneys have noted small children are among those most at risk. This is particularly true for visiting family members and youngsters who do not have regular access to pools and may not have had proper swimming, safety and drowning-prevention training. Unfortunately, a recent report on the risks of young children drowning in the New York Times revealed the risks have not waned in recent years, despite frequent publications of the risks.

The Times reports that the impact of 30 years of drowning prevention efforts appears to have plateaued, and in fact risks have increased for some racial minorities, including blacks and Hispanics.

Swimming Pool Accidents a Focus During Covid

November 15, 2020 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Several recent swimming pool injuries have Southwest Florida safety advocates preaching caution as we continue to deal with COVID into the busy holiday season.

In August, WINK News reported two children were recovering after a near-drowning incident in Cape Coral. Child drownings in Florida happen way too often. Twenty-three kids died in the water in 2019. In less than eight months, 29 more kids have drowned in Florida thus far this year. WINK News reported the family was visiting from out-of-state. In January, Cape Police investigated a separate incident involving toddlers ages 3 and 4 and there have been several other drowning deaths in Lee County this autumn.

Swimming Pool Safety a SWFL Focus

March 3, 2019 | Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner

Florida lawmakers are looking for ways to reduce drowning risks in the Sunshine State.

Florida leads the nation for drownings of children under the age of 5. Now, ABC7 News reports some lawmakers want to increase safety requirements under Florida’s Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act. Our Fort Myers injury lawyers support any measure that reduces the risk of these senseless tragedies.

FOX 13 News in Tampa reports the bill is being backed by lawmakers and the mother of a 2-year-old who drowned in a friend’s backyard pool in September 2017. The mother said her child exited the house through a sliding door and was able to get past a defective pool fence.