Safe Swimming: A West Palm Beach Drowning Lawyer’s Guide To Pool Safety

Summer is coming to Florida. Swimming pools are a great way to keep cool despite the heat and humidity, but swimming pools can be dangerous. West Palm Beach drowning lawyer Craig Goldenfarb has prepared this list of safety tips to help you and your family enjoy the pool and stay safe.

First the facts:

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 3500 people die in drowning accidents each year. About 400 (11%) of these accidents occur in Florida, making Florida the top state for drowning deaths.

Florida is also the top state for near-drowning accidents. About 566 people a year are injured in Florida swimming pool accidents. The most common types of injuries sustained in swimming pool accidents include:

• Near drowning
  
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Disembowelment
• Limb injuries
• Death

Some facts about swimming pool accidents in the United States:

• According to CDC data, more than one quarter of drowning victims are children. Sixty percent of near-drowning victims are children.
• Children between the ages of one and four are most likely to be involved in Florida swimming pool accidents.
• Approximately one-fifth of children admitted to hospitals after near-drowning accidents sustain serious and permanent brain damage.
• The lifelong cost of treating the injuries sustained by a swimming pool accident drowning victim ranges from $75,000 to over $4 million.
• Florida's drowning rate is twice the rate for the rest of the United States.
• The most common causes of West Palm Beach swimming pool accidents are negligence and defective pool parts.

Florida swimming pool safety tips:

Most young children who become victims of swimming pool accidents are injured while at home. In most cases, the child had been out of sight for fewer than five minutes, and was in the care of one or both parents when the drowning occurred. Don't assume your child is safe; it is worth the time and cost to take steps to prevent Florida swimming pool accidents.

West Palm Beach drowning lawyer Craig Goldenfarb suggests taking the following safety precautions:

• Install a pool fence that completely separates the swimming pool area from the back yard, deck, play area, and all house entrances. The fence should be at least 4 feet high with self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward. The latches should be out of the reach of children.
• Install automatic door locks and/or alarms so children cannot access the pool area without an adult.
• Install a power safety pool cover or other type of motor powered barrier that will prevent accidental falls into the pool.
• Remove toys, balls and floats that are not in use from the pool area so children aren't tempted to enter the area.
• If the pool is above ground, remove all ladders and steps when the pool is not being used.
• Make sure that the shut off switch to the pump is clearly marked.
• Check all pool drains. Never use a pool with a broken drain.
• Use a pool drain cover with a domed shape.
• Consider installing a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS), which will automatically shutoff when a blockage is detected
• Get your pool inspected every year; all drains and other pool parts should be checked for integrity and safety at the beginning of the swimming season.
• Make sure there is an adult present whenever children are swimming. Do not rely on flotation devices.
• Take a CPR class. These are available through the Palm Beach Red Cross, 561-833-7711.

If you have lost a loved one to a West Palm Beach drowning accident, we are very sorry for your loss. If your loss occurred because another person failed to prevent the accident or because of a defective pool part, you may be able to file a Florida drowning lawsuit. We know compensation can't erase your loss, but it can help you get the accountability you need.

If your child was injured in a near-drowning, a Florida drowning lawsuit can help you get compensation for their medical care and disability. To learn more, please contact the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation with a West Palm Beach drowning lawyer.