The promise of warm weather in the coming months has many Americans looking forward to using backyard and community swimming pools, but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning parents and caregivers to take extra care with children around swimming pools and other bodies of water this summer. According to a report issued by the CPSC on May 22, an average of 290 drowning deaths occur every year in the United States, with 76% of victims being children under the age of five. If your child has suffered swimming pool accident injuries in Tennessee, or if you lost a loved one in a drowning accident in another person’s swimming pool or spa, contact our reputable attorneys at Michael D. Ponce & Associates to discuss your legal options.
In its report, the CPSC indicates that children between the ages of one and three account for nearly 70% of U.S. drowning deaths annually, a percentage that has authorities encouraging parents and guardians to take extra precautions around swimming pools and spas this summer. Overall, the CPSC reports, there are 5,100 pool- or spa-related injuries that result in emergency medical treatment every year, with children under five accounting for 78% of these incidents. In light of these alarming statistics, the CPSC is advising individuals with young children to ensure that community and private swimming pools have proper safety equipment in place to reduce the risk of entrapment and drowning accidents.
According to Inez Tennenbaum, chairman of the CPSC, uninterrupted supervision is essential in preventing drowning accidents involving children. National statistics have shown that nearly nine out of 10 children between the ages of one and 14 involved in fatal swimming pool accidents are actually under supervision at the time of the incident. As the school year winds down and summer vacation begins, parents and caregivers are advised to practice adequate supervision around swimming pools and spas, which means avoiding distractions like reading, socializing or talking on the phone. The unfortunate truth is that 77% of swimming pool accident victims have been missing for five minutes or less when they are found in the pool drowned or submerged.
In addition to parents and caregivers practicing adequate supervision, swimming pool owners are encouraged to take special care to ensure that their pool and the surrounding area is safe for kids, which can be as easy as installing proper fencing. According to Dr. Marty Eichelberger, CEO of the National SAFE KIDS campaign, “four-sided isolating fence can prevent up to 90 percent of residential pool drownings.” Unfortunately, when swimming pool owners fail to take these safety steps, the consequences can be devastating for children and their families. If your child was injured in a swimming pool accident in Nashville, or elsewhere in Tennessee, consult our knowledgeable lawyers at Michael D. Ponce & Associates to explore your compensation options.
Source: http://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Research-and-Statistics/Injury-Statistics/Sports-and-Recreation/Pools/PoolSubmersions2013.pdf