Drownings

Home » Premises Liability » Drownings

Did Your Loved One Drown?

Water can be extremely dangerous for children and adults alike. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2005 and 2009, there was an average of 3,533 drownings per year in the United States. Interestingly, only one in five people who drown are children ages 14 and under, meaning that nearly 80 percent of all drowning accidents happen to people over 14. Most drownings occur in swimming pools, although lakes and ponds can be dangerous as well.

It is important to watch our loved ones closely when they are swimming or near a pool. Things to watch out for before you or a loved one takes a dip in the pool include:

• Slick areas near the pool

• Inadequate markings around the pool to determine the deep end vs. shallow end

• Murky or unclear water

• Inadequate fences to keep children out of the pool unsupervised

• Untrained or understaffed lifeguards at a public pool

• A dangerous or not properly maintained slide or diving board

• Overcrowding