Swimming Pool Accidents

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning accidents are the number one cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 and 4.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that about 390 deaths (roughly ten a day) are linked to drowning in a swimming pool or a spa.

The majority of drowning deaths and submersion injuries in the United States are associated with pools. About half of reported pool-related injuries and deaths occur at home pools, apartment pools, hotel pools, or residential pools and spas.

Swimming Pool Accidents

An annual average of more than 5,000 pool or spa-related emergency department-treated submersion injuries are reported each year for children younger than 15. Serious injuries include:

•    Head Injuries
•    Bone Fractures
•    Spinal Cord Injuries
•    Drowning

Swimming Pool Injury Risk

•    Young children: Children younger than 5 represent nearly 75 percent of pool and spa deaths.
•    Minority Children: African-American and Hispanic children are at high risk—USA Swimming records show 70 percent of African American children and 62 percent of Hispanic children cannot swim, making them especially vulnerable.

Causes of Pool Accidents

•    Inadequate supervision
•    Entrapment Risk—a swimmer can be trapped by water or drain suction
•    Inability to swim
•    Removal or lack of safety barrier
•    Diving in shallow water
•    Slippery surface surrounding pool
•    Alcohol or drug use

Swimming Pool Safety Hazards

Up to 10 percent of cervical spinal cord injuries are caused by pool diving accidents. The victims are predominantly male.

Almost all of the accidents are caused by diving in water less than ten feet deep. When the entire weight of one’s body hits the bottom of a pool, the force transmitted to the cervical spine is likely to cause the vertebrae that encircle the spinal cord to collapse. If the spinal cord is damaged and is unable to transmit nerve impulses, paralysis occurs.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, of an estimated 11,000 spinal cord injuries occur in the United States each year, diving into swimming pools is the fourth leading cause.

Defective Swimming Pools

Swimming pools present more safety hazards than most homeowners realize. The biggest fear is that an unaccompanied child may wander into a pool area, but that is only one risk of having a pool at home.

Swimming pools have even been subject to recalls and defective swimming pool lawsuits have been filed when a pool defect leads to an injury or death.

Pool drains can be dangerous, and defective pool drains have claimed the lives of children, teens and adults. Some drains have a dangerous suction that is far too strong and can trap people to the bottom of a pool.

If a pool is sold without a proper drain cover, the product can be considered defective and a pool accident lawsuit may be viable. Pool companies can be liable for damages. Pool drain covers are recalled each year when they discovered to be a consumer safety risk.

The same is often true with home spa drain covers and hot tub drains. Home spas and hot tubs can also prove dangerous when they overheat and injure consumers. Temperature gauges may be defective and malfunction, and spa temperature readings may be inaccurate.

Hotel Pool Accidents

Hotel pool accidents are just as common as other pool incidents. Hotels have a duty to properly maintain a pool area and to supervise hotel guests. Pool drownings have occurred in hotels in the past, and there are hundreds of slip and fall accidents each year.

Apartment Pool Accidents

Apartment complexes usually have pools without proper lifeguard oversight, and many apartment pools can be accessed by children with minimal security. An apartment can be liable for any drowning or injury if a pool is not maintained to a safety standard, or if children can access the pool area with ease.

Apartment pools require warning signs, stated pool rules, pool hours, and should be equipped with some security measures to keep children away from the water without adult supervision.

Hot Tub Accidents

Hot tubs might not seem dangerous, but thousands of people have been injured in hot tubs, spas or whirlpools. Around 75 percent of injuries occur at home.

About half of hot tub injuries are caused by slipping or falling, but heat overexposure and near-drowning are also concerns. Spas should not be set above 104 degrees. Children are particularly vulnerable around hot tubs.

Country Club Pool Accidents

Swimming Accidents can occur in a community pool or at a country club, and caution must be taken when children are near water.

If you have been involved in a pool accident, it is important that you know your rights. The Lyon Firm can determine liability and can offer a free case review.

Country clubs or aquatic center management can be held liable for a pool accident and injury in the following circumstances:

• Poor pool maintenance, or pool chemical negligence
• Improper lifeguard training or understaffing
• Slippery pool areas & dangerous diving boards

Swimming Pool Safety

If you have a swimming pool at home it is prudent to observe basic pool safety measures including the following:

•    Install four-sided fencing at least four feet high
•    Consider additional barriers: automatic door locks and alarms
•    Clear the pool deck of toys—reduce temptation for the child
•    Clear pool deck of slippery surface water
•    Keep constant supervision when children are present
•    Keep pools and alcohol separate
•    Never dive in less than 10 feet of water
•    Establish and enforce clear pool rules

Swimming Pool Accident Lawsuits

The Lyon Firm is dedicated to representing plaintiffs following injuries and deaths that occur through no fault of their own. When property owners and management are negligent in protecting children, and swimming pool accidents result, they may be held liable in premises liability lawsuits.