Summer Pool Dangers: Los Angeles Lawyers at Freeman & Freeman Comment on Recent Tragedies
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) July 31, 2013 -- After several fatal or near-fatal drownings already in southern California this summer, the attorneys of the Personal Injury Law Firm Freeman & Freeman, LLP in Woodland Hills decided it was time to make a statement about pool safety. "While children under 5 are most vulnerable to drowning in an unsecured pool or when not closely observed by a responsible guardian, young children are not the only one's at risk especially in the summertime when many more people frequent pools," says Stan H. Freeman, one of the founding partners at the firm. "Over the last several decades we have represented many clients throughout Los Angeles and southern California whose loved-ones have suffered catastrophic injury or lost their lives after an accident in and around water. Over that time, we have developed some suggestions for improving safety. We felt, in the aftermath of these latest tragedies, it was time to stress, again, the importance of safety around water."
One of the cases that inspired the personal injury firm's recent announcement involves 17-year-old Anandre Thomas who suffered a catastrophic injury in the south Los Angeles public pool at Jesse Owens Park. In an article published on June 13, 2013, the Los Angeles Times reported that the teenager is "on life support and likely brain dead" ("Family: Teen likely brain-dead after near-drowning at public pool") after being under water for approximately five minutes before lifeguards pulled him from the crowded public pool. In another southern California tragedy, a 5-year-old boy was recently found in a condominium complex pool in the north San Diego County community of Carmel Mountain. CBS News 8 in San Diego published the article "5-year-old boy found face-down in pool dies" on July 9, 2013.
A southern California NBC news affiliate, Channel 4, also reported on the death of a 2-year-old at a backyard pool party in Orange County. The report, published July 16, 2013, titled "2-Year-Old's Death Renews Pool-Safety Warnings" indicates that more than 100 people were in attendance at the pool party where the incident took place.
"These recent cases are horrible reminders of the problem we have in California," argues Steven M. Freeman, the other founding partner of the firm. "The details are still emerging about who may be liable but the tragedies reveal how important close observation is, especially when very young children are involved but also for everyone in public and private pools that may be extremely crowded in the summertime."
Because they have decades of experience representing families in the aftermath of tragedy, Freeman & Freeman know that no two cases are exactly the same. "Each client we represent has unique needs. The details of each case vary. But based upon our experience with drowning and near-drowning cases, we have developed a list of tips that may ensure a safer experience for swimmers. If a pool owner or supervising authority fails to keep the environment safe, we know how to pursue justice and compensation for the injured families, but keeping pools safe in the first place should be everyone's priority, " Stan Freeman says. "Though some of these tips seem to be repeated each summer, the time is now to reaffirm them."
- Designate a water watcher and, at public pools, make sure they have a lifeguard. "At every public pool there must be adequate observation of the swimmers. The number of lifeguards must be appropriate for the number of swimmers or someone may go unnoticed if they do not come back up after submerging," says Steven Freeman. "On the other hand, if you are having a pool party at your home or at a location where a lifeguard is not required by law, hire one. Also, designate someone as the official 'water watcher' whose only job is to make sure swimmers are safe. These are simple steps but after so many catastrophes, we have seen grieving families realize that responsible parties failed to take even the simplest steps."
- Install a fence around the pool and spa that a child cannot open. Neighbors should be encouraged to do the same as a child can easily wander into a neighbor's yard and suffer catastrophic injury or death. "Also, regularly inspect the closing and locking mechanism. The fence is going to be useless unless it was properly manufactured and is adequately maintained," Stan Freeman says.
- Keep children away from drains in the pool and demand that the Virginia Graeme Baker Act be enforced. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was passed in 2007 after the 7-year-old granddaughter of former Secretary of State James Baker drowned while entrapped by a hot tub's powerful drain suction in 2002. From 1999-2009, according to a report published by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission on May 24, 2010, there were 94 reports of circulation entrapments in the United States and, according to the report, the highest vulnerability was for children 5-9 years old. "The Federal law requires that all pools, spas and wading pools besides residential pools, have pool drain covers that are designed to prevent suction entrapments. While entrapments are not the only danger in the pool, they are one that is easily controlled. Even in private pools, children should be kept away from the drains and vacuums," Stan Freeman asserts.
Steven Freeman concludes by saying "public pools, community pools, residential pools, hotel pools, water parks...all of them can be deadly especially if responsible parties become complacent about safety. Safety is not that difficult to ensure but it does require some effort. If a family suffers a swimming pool tragedy, they should call us to hold the responsible parties accountable. However, through education and prevention, we would much rather help prevent the tragedy in the first place."
Stan H. Freeman and Steven M. Freeman, Freeman & Freeman, LLP, http://www.freeman-freeman.com/, 818-992-2919, [email protected]
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