Everyone wants to beat the heat now that the summer is once again in full swing. For many families in Longview, Texas, and the rest of the country, staying cool means staying in the pool. Before you and your loved ones grab a towel and go for a dip, make certain you have done all you can to help prevent swimming pool accidents.
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns, more than 3,500 Americans will drown each year, and nearly four times as many will suffer serious and sometimes permanent injury due to near-drowning incidents. With such a high rate of severe injury or death in swimming pool accidents, the best option is really to rely on total prevention, followed by intervention and reaction.
Follow these 7 smart and simple tips to help prevent swimming pool accidents this summer:
- Adult on duty: At any swimming pool gathering with children present, there should always be an adult by the pool acting as a lifeguard. Ideally, each child in the pool will have their own dedicated watcher. Some party planners like to sign up two or more adults as volunteer lifeguards for that night, as having a more-official and predesignated role tends to make people take their responsibilities more seriously.
- CPR training: You and at least one other person at the swimming pool should know CPR. One person is not enough since that person might be the one who gets into trouble in the water. The American Red Cross routinely offers free CPR classes in the summer. Click here to visit the organization’s website to see if there is a class near you.
- Floatation devices: Foam noodles and inner tubes are fun for playtime in the pool but they are not safety devices rated to keep people afloat. A child or inexperienced swimmer should always be equipped with a floatation device, not just handed a toy with air in it.
- Never alone: No one should ever be permitted into the pool without someone else there with them. Even highly-experienced swimmers can make a mistake, inhale water, and require the emergency intervention of another person.
- No diving: It is not considered safe to dive into any pool that is less than six feet deep. You should also not allow anyone to dive into a pool with other swimmers already in it. A collision between a diver and a swimmer could be heavy enough to cause unconsciousness.
- Sober swimming: Alcohol and swimming should absolutely not be permitted to cross paths at your pool or party. Just as drunkenness makes controlling a vehicle safely impossible, it also inhibits a person’s motor skills, greatly increasing the chances of floundering and then drowning.
- Toy chest: Kids like to try to pick up fun toys floating on the pool’s surface. This is a severe hazard, as a child reaching for a toy could fall in. Lock away all pool toys in a toy chest well away from the pool when they are not in use.
Longview Swimming Pool Accident Attorney
With the best laid plans, swimming pool accidents can happen. If your loved one is hurt in a swimming pool accident and you suspect someone’s negligence might be a contributing factor, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim in pursuit of compensation. Contact Erskine & McMahon LLP to speak with a highly-experienced and dedicated premises liability attorney to learn more about your rights and legal options.