As the summer continues and more facilities reopen, it is no wonder that families are getting some much-needed sun and fun. But that means that parents, pool facility owners and homeowners with their own pools need to brush up on potential injuries and ways to prevent them.
Drowning, both fatal and non-fatal, may be the first type that comes to mind when thinking about dangers at the pool, but those are not the only injuries to keep in mind.
Drowning injuries
According to the Pool Safety Foundation, drownings represent the second leading cause of death in children up to age 15. These may result from poor access to suitable guard rails, improper drain covers that create suction or simply five minutes of inattention.
Other injuries
Swimming pools, public beaches and even areas around jacuzzis risk many injuries including slip and fall accidents, diving accidents or electrocution due to faulty wiring in electrical systems.
Preventing injuries
For anyone with a pool at home, there are precautions available to help reduce the risk of these injuries:
- Updating pool drains with proper covers
- Building high fences with lockable latches
- Installing a pool safety cover
- Removing ladders from the sides of above ground pools when not in use
When visiting a public swimming pool, it is important to remain alert. Anyone with children may want to brush up on C.P.R. conventions for children, as they differ slightly depending on age group.
In the event of an accident, there may be a case for premises liability depending on the circumstance. According to the CDC, 40% of drowning injuries need hospitalization, which often leads to expensive medical bills.
Prevention is key. When that fails, the situation may require compensation for damages.