Swimming pools are popular in the United States. Nationwide, there are more than 10 million residential swimming pools, along with hundreds of thousands of commercial pools. Unsurprisingly, pools tend to be more common in states with year-round fair weather and hot summers. South Carolina is no exception. It’s estimated that the state has approximately one pool for every 47 residents. The Charleston area is also home to at least a dozen public and commercial pools.
Swimming pools can be a welcome way to cool down in the summer heat, and offer great opportunities for both exercise and fun. Unfortunately, they can also be dangerous. Hundreds of children across the United States die in drowning incidents each year, and thousands of others are treated for non-fatal drowning events.
Here’s what you need to know who is at risk, where drowning accidents happen, and common causes.
Younger Children are at the Greatest Risk
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) periodically reports on fatal and nonfatal drowning incidents among children under the age of 15. For the three-year period most recently assessed, the CPSC reported that most fatal and nonfatal drowning injuries to children occurred in children under the age of five. In fact, about 45% of nonfatal drowning incidents involved children aged two or younger.
Drowning deaths in children follow a similar pattern. Children aged one to three made up 64% of childhood drowning deaths, with two-year-old children making up the largest percentage.
The Most Dangerous Locations Vary Depending on Age
The vast majority of drowning incidents involving children aged five and younger happen in residential pools. About 59% occur at home, and another 26% at the home of a family member, friend or neighbor.
That changes as children get older, though. Of those who were injured or killed in a drowning incident in a pool or spa, children aged five to nine and those aged 10-14 were significantly more likely to have been in a public, community or commercial pool at the time of the incident. The Red Cross adds that older children are more likely to experience drowning incidents in natural bodies of water such as ponds and lakes.
Children are More Likely to Drown in Summer
It should come as no surprise that most drowning incidents involving children happen during the months of May, June, July and August. In addition to the summer heat driving more children to outdoor pools, the summer break from school offers more opportunities.
Protecting Children Against Drowning
First and perhaps most important, pool owners should take care to secure the pool area. The Red Cross reports that more than ⅔ of young children found drowned or submerged in a pool were not expected to be in or near the pool. You should also be aware of any potential water hazards near your home, closely supervise young children, and check any nearby pools immediately if a young child is missing.
Of course, swimming lessons and water safety training play an important role. But it’s also important that neither you nor your child has a false sense of security. Even a strong swimmer can get into trouble in the water. Some other important measures include:
- Teaching children to always ask before going in or near the water
- Having an adult close by and watching the water when young children are in the water
- Making sure that you have everything you might need in an emergency at hand while children are in the pool, including a pole or rescue ring and a cell phone in case you need emergency assistance
- Ensuring that your pool is free of trapping hazards by installing anti-entrapment drain covers and safety releases and ensuring that your children know how to work the release
- Not allowing children to swim alone
- Teaching children to enter natural bodies of water with caution and feet first
- Ensuring that public or commercial pools your children use are protected by lifeguards, or staying and watching them yourself
- Understanding that arm floaties and other floating pool toys are not safety devices and should not be relied upon
Liability for Drowning Accidents
Drowning incidents happen for many reasons, and often for a combination of reasons. Some common factors include:
- Pools and spas that are not properly secured
- Children who are not properly attended
- Reliance on floatation devices that are not intended for safety
- Dangerous pool or spa conditions, such as intakes that may capture hair or clothing
- Inattentive lifeguards
- Failure to clearly designate drop-offs in pools
Often, these circumstances involve negligence. For example, if your child was injured because your neighbor failed to secure their pool, or because a lifeguard at a commercial pool wandered off to get a snack, the negligent party may be responsible for damages.
If your child has been harmed through someone else’s negligence, whether in a swimming pool accident or some other incident, you owe it to yourself and your family to learn more about your rights. You can schedule a free consultation right now by calling 843-300-7600 or filling out our contact form.