Florida Swimming Pool Injuries: Preventing Pool Entrapment Accidents

It is getting warm outside and children are headed to the swimming pool.  However, if the swimming pool isn't fitted with proper safety equipment an afternoon of fun can turn into a lifelong tragedy.
 
Circulation entrapment is a swimming pool accident that usually happens when the suction of the pool's citculation pump causes children to be stuck to the pool drain.  This can cause drowning, serious injury and even disembowelment, if the child sits on the pool drain.
 
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is designed to prevent these types of accidents. This federal law is named after a seven-year-old girl who was killed when she became trapped on a pool drain.  Her mother was unable to free her.  It finally took two men to release her body, but the force of the pulling broke the drain cover.  This act requires that public pools install drain covers to prevent drain entrapment. 
 
However, two-thirds of pool drain accidents happen in residential pools and children age five to nine have the highest frequency of drain entrapment. If you own a pool, installing a drain cover may save your child's life.  It is important to inform children about the danger of pool drains and remind them to never play on or near the drain, even if it is covered. For more pool safety tips, see our article: "Safe Swimming: A West Palm Beach Drowning Lawyer's Guide To Pool Safety."

If your child becomes the victim of a Florida swimming pool accident, West Palm Beach drowning lawyer can help. Please contact the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. at 1-800-GOLD-LAW.