Swimming Pool Accidents
Swimming pool accidents occur frequently in Florida and especially in the summer months, as one might expect. Diving accidents, drowning, and slip and fall accidents are quite common in the summer months when there are a great number of children running around in pool areas.
In 2000, there were 3,482 unintentional drownings in the United States, an average of nine people per day. This does not include those who drowned in boating-related incidents (CDC 2002).
For every child who drowns, six receive emergency department care for near-drowning or non-fatal submersion injuries. Half of those seen in the emergency department require hospitalization (CDC 2002). Even nonfatal swimming pool incidents can result in serious injuries including brain damage.
Groups At Risk:
Males: In 2000, males accounted for 79% of those who drowned in the United States. (CDC 2002)
Children 1 to 14 years of age: In 2000, 943 children ages 0 to 14 years died from drowning (CDC 2002). While drowning rates have been declining slowly over time (Branche 1999), it remains the second-leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 (CDC 2002)
In addition to such swimming pool accidents, swimmers may ingest harmful chemicals present in pool water which may lead to illness or injury also known as RWI's. When people are injured in swimming pool accidents or get sick from contaminated pool water, the owner may be liable for injuries if he or she was negligent.
Swimming pool accidents may result as a variety of reasons, the most common are:
- Failure to provide a property trained lifeguard or proper life saving equipment at a public or private pool.
- Failure to properly enclose the pool per local laws
- Negligent supervision
- Improperly placed or too strong pool pumps creating dangerous suction
- Failure to maintain a proper surface around the pool area
- Failure to maintain proper warning signs
- Improper maintenance
