Thousands of children and adults die by drowning in the United States every year, and a primary cause of these drownings — especially for children — is swimming pool accidents. The Concord Swimming Pool Accident Attorneys at our law firm have helped many families who have had a loved one injured in a swimming pool accident or even lost in a tragic drowning.

Places of recreation like swimming pools should provide happiness as we play together with family and friends. Simple precautions can make them far safer places for our families to be. But when a swimming pool accident results in an injury or loss of life, please contact our fatal and non-fatal drowning attorneys in Concord for assistance in receiving just compensation from insurance companies and the responsible parties. Your family does not have to endure this pain alone. Let our compassionate legal team advocate on your behalf.

Reports and statistics from government agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and medical publications show that:

• Swimming pools are the primary site for drownings among children
• Drowning is the most common cause of death in children from 1 to 4-years-old.
• The United States averages approximately 4,000 drowning deaths per year and more than twice as many non-fatal drownings.
• Most non-fatal drownings still require emergency room treatment in a hospital, and about 4 in 10 of those emergency room visits will be followed by either in-patient admission and treatment or additional outside medical care.

Fatalities from drownings are certainly the most obvious and worrisome outcome that we think about when we consider swimming pool accident danger, but even non-fatal swimming pool drowning incidents can have devastating and permanent injuries. When breathing ceases — even if the heartbeat continues — the blood supply to the brain quickly loses its life-sustaining oxygen. Even a short period of oxygen deprivation can result in permanent brain injury.

It’s ultimately the responsibility of private and public pool owners to provide a safe environment to guests and visitors who are enjoying their pools. Many public and business-owned pools will have signs posted warning visitors about the obvious dangers of swimming and diving, but this is certainly not enough to either protect swimmers from harm or to relieve the pool owners of their responsibilities.

For ourselves and our families, the single best way to prevent swimming pool drownings is to learn to swim. We can also take life-saving, and first aid training that teaches the basics of CPR and rescue breathing that can reduce the likelihood of death or serious injury when a swimming pool drowning occurs. There are many places to learn to swim and organizations such as the Red Cross that provide life-saving training.

Barriers are certainly a very effective way to protect against swimming pool accidents among children, whether in the form of fencing and gates around a pool area or devices like locking covers for spas. There is a reason why homeowners’ insurance policies require fences around backyard pools — the insurance companies know that they prevent many swimming pool accident injuries and drownings.

• Learn to swim, both for adults who may not have had the opportunity earlier in life and as early as possible for children.
• Never let children swim and play on their own in and around a swimming pool — there should always be an adult watching their activities.
• Drownings occur quickly — if children can’t be found and there is a pool or spa nearby, check there first.
• Install and maintain proper barriers like fences around swimming pools.
• Regularly inspect swimming pool pump safety vacuum release systems and electrical systems to prevent drownings due to electrocutions or entrapment by drain suction.

Increasing safety in and around pools is not complicated.  Basic precautions by pool owners can greatly reduce the risk of injury or death, as can simple actions by swimmers and the parents of young children.

View this video from the American Red Cross about preventing swimming pool drownings among young children:

Hello, my name is Ed Smith, and I am a Concord Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer. Swimming pool accidents can be especially tragic because they involve a significant likelihood of death or permanent injury from drowning and because the victims are much more likely to be young children. Although there are simple steps that a pool owner can take to greatly reduce the risk, many, unfortunately, do not do so. And even when appropriate safety precautions are taken, swimming pool accidents can still occur. If you or a member of your family has suffered an injury resulting from a swimming pool accident, please call us today at 916.921.6400 or 800.404.5400 for free, friendly advice.  You can also reach us through our online contact form.

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