CPSC: 70 Percent of Swimming Pool Drowning Victims are Children Under 5

Posted By The Law Offices of Eugene G. Bruno, P.C. Posted in: Premises Liability.

Summertime and swimming pools seemingly go hand in hand, but swimming pool accidents can detract from that fun, turning a day at the pool into a nightmare. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), nearly 70 percent of victims in swimming pool or spa drownings are children age 5 or younger—underscoring the need for additional pool safety measures when youngsters are afoot.

According to the CPSC, from Memorial Day through Labor Day in 2017, there were at least 163 children under age 15 who drowned in swimming pools or spas. Of these, 112 of the children were age 5 or under. That is slightly fewer deaths than in 2016 when 205 children under age 15 drowned during the same timeframe. Of those, roughly 70 percent—140 children—were age 5 or under.

Water can be extremely dangerous for young children, says the CPSC. In children age 5 or under, swimming deaths are the second-leading cause of fatalities in the U.S., and the risk of death increases when the child is familiar with the pool. Experts say that around 65 percent of all swimming pool drownings occur at home or at a relative’s home.

The CPSC’s Pool Safely campaign looks to educate the public on the dangers of water and how to be safer when swimming in swimming pools and spas and at water parks. The CPSC offers these guidelines to help keep kids safe:

• Install pool fencing around all pools and spas; fencing should have a self-closing, self-latching gate
• If you don’t know how to swim, learn; teach your children to swim
• Supervise children when they are around water; designate an adult to be the “water watcher” at all times
  Learn CPR for both children and adults
• Make sure children know to avoid pool drains, pipes and openings; this reduces the risk of entrapment drownings
• Install pool and spa covers that are compliant with federal safety standards

It is important to note that many drownings occur outside the Memorial Day to Labor Day timeframe, so it’s important to remain vigilant year-round. The CPSC says that around 500 children age 5 or under drowning throughout the year. And that’s not to mention the 3,000 kids that are treated each year in hospital ERs for injuries sustained during near-drowning incidents. Near-drowning events can lead to serious medical complications, and in up to 20 percent of victims, lifelong neurological deficits.

Injured in a Pool?

Property owners have a duty to keep their premises safe for visitors and guests. If you or a loved one was injured or drowned in a pool, then you may have grounds for a premises liability claim against the pool owner. These types of cases are complex by nature and require the representation of a seasoned San Diego premises liability lawyer. Contact The Law Offices of Eugene G. Bruno to speak with our legal team and set up your free, no-obligation case consultation today.