Enjoy The Water Without Fear
We probably don’t need to tell you that this is the time of year when pools begin opening en masse. What you may not know, however, is just how dangerous they can be. According to the CDC, drowning is the No. 2 cause of death for children ages 1–4; only birth defects exceed it. In an average year, there are about 10 drownings per day. These are pretty scary stats, which is why it’s so important to be safe when you head to the pool with the family.
The most important step in preventing pool injuries is to get your children swimming lessons before letting them splash into the water. You may think floaties and other devices are enough, but they aren’t. Even a child tied with 1,000 buoys (don’t do this!) should be monitored by a parent if they can’t swim yet. Young children — even those adept in the water — should always be under parental supervision.
Another important risk-mitigation tactic is teaching proper pool behavior. Children should never fully submerge another swimmer, even if it’s done playfully. The same goes for running around the outside the pool. If a child falls on the pavement, suffers a concussion, and falls into the water, it’s not going to matter if they’re a mini-Michael Phelps. Sorry to paint a grisly picture, but that’s just how high the stakes are.
Parents need to act with vigilance. Even if there is a lifeguard on duty, they can’t watch everyone at once. If something happens to your child, you want to be able to jump into the water immediately. You can hang out poolside if you’re confident in your child’s swimming abilities, but don’t drink or be otherwise distracted. It’s also important to never leave the pool area without your child — and to check the water first in the event you can’t find them. When it comes to drowning accidents and their impact, reaction time is everything.
Sadly, not all injuries are preventable. If you or a loved one have been injured in a pool accident through no fault of your own and want to learn about how you can get justice, call our office today. We’d love to dive into your case.
Posted Under: Safety