Preventing Drowning Accidents

Especially during the hottest months of the year, Florida swimming pools become one of the main centers for beating the heat and humidity. Florida residents view swimming or relaxing by the pool as a fun way to pass the time.

Nevertheless, a pleasurable day at the pool can instantly turn into a nightmare. Pool accidents frequently cause serious bodily harm and even drownings. Unfortunately, devastating tales of drownings throughout Ocala and The Villages are all too common and hit close to home. For example, the recent drowning in Ocala of an 8-year-old girl from Georgia.

Drowning is a huge crisis and, in the US, it is ranked the 5th top cause of accidental injury deaths. Approximately 10 people die every single day from a drowning death. From 2005 to 2014, about 3,536 on average died per year from drowning in the US. Roughly 20% of those deaths happened to children no older than 14 years old.

To make matters even worse, for each child that dies, 5 more are treated in the hospital for injuries caused by a nonfatal submersion. These nonfatal drowning injuries can lead to serious brain damage that causes the victims to be a state of permanent vegetation.

Factors That Increase the Likelihood of Drowning

To lower the risk of a tragic drowning, it is crucial never to swim by yourself. Even some of the best swimmers can experience a sudden medical problem which causes them incapable of staying afloat. Swimming in the presence of others or with a lifeguard on duty can significantly increase your odds of surviving in the occurrence of an accident or medical emergency inside the pool.

Some of the main elements that increase the risk of a swimming pool accident or drowning may include:

1. Insufficient swimming capabilities of both children and adults. By attending a swimming courses the chances of drowning decrease significantly.
2. Absence of efficient barriers. For example, adequate fencing and a gate around the pool will assist in stopping young children from accidentally wandering into the pool. The bulk of drownings of little kids occurs in family swimming pools.
3. No warning signs or other markings signifying water depth. Without markers to show how deep the water is, people may dive head-first into shallow water. Diving into water not deep enough, typically results in serious back, neck and head injuries. Additionally, unskilled swimmers may end up in too deep of water.
4. No qualified supervision to alertly look after swimmers and prevent drowning. Tragic drowning fatalities often occur almost instantaneously and without much noise. Lifeguards or other adults should be on watch anytime someone is swimming, especially when little children are in the pool. When lifeguards or others fail to pay attention, swimmers can easily end up drowning or with a brain injury from the lack of oxygen to the brain.
5. Drinking Alcohol. Alcohol usage is an element for as many as 70% of teenagers and adults that suffer from recreational drownings.

In order to stop drownings, pool owners and all other facilities with pool must maintain the proper lifesaving gear. All safety equipment should be easily accessible and close to the deck of the pool.

Are you in need of an Accomplished Personal Injury Lawyer?

The rate of occurrence of drowning and near-drowning accidents is disturbing. If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident, we advise on hiring an experienced personal injury attorney to pursue the appropriate legal actions.

Additionally, in cases where the swimming pool injury resulted in the death of a family member, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim.

Gordon J. Glover is a highly experienced, hardworking and tenacious Ocala personal injury attorney. Kindly, contact us online or call now at our Ocala office 352-484-0775 or The Villages 352-205-4495 office, to discuss your swimming pool accident case in more detail.

Resource:

ocala.com/news/20180514/visiting-girl-drowns-in-ocala-pool