Swimming Pool Accidents and Owners Responsibility

Swimming pools are becoming an increasingly popular amenity in both new and old homes, and they offer a particularly delightful summertime activity. Pools, unfortunately, can be exceedingly harmful, especially for small children who are not supervised. Children aged one to four had the highest drowning rates, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with the majority of drowning occurring in domestic swimming pools. Every year, over 300 children under the age of five die in pool-related accidents, and 2,000 more young children are admitted to hospitals with submersion injuries.

Contact an expert personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options if you or a loved one has been harmed in a swimming pool accident, or if a person has been wounded or died while swimming in your pool.

Factors that can increase the risks of Drowning

When it comes to minimizing summertime swimming pool accidents and pool owner liability, there are a lot of critical aspects that determine drowning risk. Before granting children, teenagers, or adult’s access to swimming pools, both parents and pool owners must evaluate all aspects of pool safety.

• No Barriers

According to CDC statistics, a four-sided isolation pool fence reduces the incidence of youth drowning by 83 percent when compared to three-sided property line fencing. Therefore, obstacles such as pool fencing should be installed to prevent small children from entering a pool area without the knowledge or supervision of a caregiver.

• Lack of Supervision

It is important to monitor young children or even grown-ups while they are engaged in swimming pool activities. There should be a professional lifeguard, parents or guardian. Someone must be there to keep an eye on them.

• Failure to Wear a Life Jacket

Although wearing a life jacket is usually more strictly enforced while boating or swimming in a lake or river. However, wearing it can save you from many unpleasant situations. Small children, teens, and even adults may benefit from wearing a life jacket while swimming in a domestic pool.

• Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol is involved in up to half of all adolescent and adult deaths related to water activity. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, and coordination, and its effects are exacerbated by heat and exposure to the sun, making it more risky when swimming.

• Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

Drowning is the leading cause of unintended injury and death among people who have epilepsy.

Responsibility of a Swimming Pool Owner

If you have a pool at home, you must take the necessary precautions to ensure that the environment is as safe as possible. When you plan to open your pool this summer and ask for a swimming pool inspection, make sure to evaluate it from a safety perspective as well to avoid any accidents.

The owner is responsible for

• Fencing

The first stage in pool ownership is to erect four-sided fencing around the pool which should be at least four feet tall, separating the house and the yard’s play area totally from the pool area. The fence should have self-latching gates that are out of children’s reach.

• Additional Pool Barriers

Additional pool barriers, such as automatic door locks or alarms, may be installed to prevent unauthorized pool access or to inform you if someone enters the pool area. In this way, the parents or the pool owners can restrict as well as monitor unnecessary movement of children and adults.

• Remove all toys from the pool

Toys are a big source of temptation for all children. Another precaution to take to avoid swimming pool accidents and injuries is to remove all toys from the pool and pool deck. To avoid children being lured to re-enter the pool area without supervision, floats, balls, and other toys should be removed from the pool and surrounding area soon after use.

• Additional Precautions

Many municipalities have developed safety requirements for residential swimming pools.  In addition to these regulations, parents and pool owners can take additional precautions to decrease the likelihood of unattended children obtaining access to pool areas. Contact a personal injury attorney if your child has suffered serious damage or death as a consequence of a swimming pool accident, as you may be entitled to financial compensation for your child’s injuries as well as your and your family’s agony and suffering.

Accidents and Injuries in Swimming Pools Have Consequences

In the United States, about 3443 fatal drowning were reported in 2007. In simple words, ten deaths in a day. It is an alarming ration. Even non-fatal drowning can have serious implications, including brain damage and long-term disabilities such as irreversible loss of fundamental functions, memory issues, and learning challenges. More than 55 percent of drowning victims treated in the emergency room, according to the CDC, require continued hospitalization or transfer to a higher level of care.

Swimming pool accidents can cause serious injuries, and the medical expenditures associated with pool accidents and injuries can be quite costly. Even for individuals who fully recover, medical costs during the initial hospitalization might exceed $2,000. Medical bills for swimming pool accident victims who have severe injuries, such as brain damage, can easily exceed $80,000.

Avoiding Swimming Pool Accidents and Risks

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers pool owners and users advice on how to avoid swimming pool accidents, injuries, and death. Learn how to swim correctly. According to studies, taking formal swimming lessons can lower the risk of drowning in children aged one to four years by 88 percent.

Assign a competent adult to keep an eye on the kids in and near the water. At all times, the children should be in contact with this person. Adults should not be reading, talking on the phone, or doing other activities while watching youngsters near a pool. When feasible, swim with a buddy and/or within sight of a lifeguard. Learn how to perform CPR. The victim has a higher chance of surviving if a bystander reacts quickly.

Final Words,

If you own a pool and an accident occurs at your home, there are actions you can take to avoid being held liable for any injuries that occur. You can be informed of your legal choices and ensure that your rights are sufficiently protected with the assistance of a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. Build Elemental provides professional pool consultation and Hardscape Contractor Services.