Swimming Pool Accidents

Swimming pools can be great fun on a hot summer day here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. They provide a great way to relax and cool down, and enjoy the downtime that you work so hard to earn. Unfortunately, an idyllic day at the pool can turn into a devastating swimming pool injury in an instant. Be alert for potential swimming pool injuries, and know your rights if you or a loved one is injured in a swimming pool accident.

SWIMMING POOL INJURY STATISTICS

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, lists an average of 3,500 unintentional drownings every year for the past decade. This averages out to 10 drowning-related deaths per day. Men were four times more likely than women to die from unintentional drowning deaths.

CHILDREN AND SWIMMING POOL INJURIES

One of the most dangerous combinations is unsupervised children and swimming pools. Kids love swimming pools – they’re drawn to them like moths to a flame – but swimming pool accidents are the second leading cause of unintentional injury fatalities in children ages 1 to 14 years. Twenty-five percent of fatal drowning victims were children age 14 and under, and for every drowning fatality in this age range, another four children are treated in the emergency room for non-fatal submersion injuries.

RISK FACTORS FOR SWIMMING POOL INJURIES

Swimming pool injuries aren’t inevitable. You can take steps to minimize the potential for swimming pool injuries and keep you and your family safe.

Barriers and supervision.
Residential swimming pools were the leading cause of drowning-related deaths in children from one to four years of age. Never let young children spend time near or in a pool unsupervised. Add pool fencing or other barriers to prevent young children from accessing the pool unsupervised. The majority of the pool-related fatalities in this age range occurred when one or both parents were present, and the child had been out of the parent’s supervision for less than 5 minutes.
Alcohol use.
Half of adolescent and adult swimming pool-related deaths involve alcohol use. Alcohol impairs judgment, influences balance and coordination and can combine with heat and sun to amply effects. Refrain from alcohol use near swimming pools to avoid swimming pool injuries.
Seizure disorders.
For persons with seizure disorders, drowning is the most common cause of unintentional injury death. If you or a loved one has a seizure disorder, make sure swimming pool time is always supervised. Having other people around can help prevent unintentional swimming pool injuries and death by enabling them to respond in the event of an emergency.