Respected Tampa Bay Personal Injury Lawyers at Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett, P.A. Offer Sound Advice For Preventing Swimming Pool Accidents
Tampa, FL (PRWEB) June 27, 2016 -- Swimming pools offer families a convenient place to have fun and swimming is a common activity for all ages. In addition, swimming has been acknowledged by the federal government as a beneficial form of exercise. Research estimates that 2.5 hours a week of swimming or other water-based activity can help reduce the risk of illness and injury. Sadly, drowning and other accidents are an ever-present danger associated with swimming pools and spas, especially in Florida.
More children between the ages of 1 to 4 die in swimming pool accidents than from any other cause. Accidents in and around pools and spas are responsible for an average of 4,900 injuries each year requiring treatment in hospital emergency departments in which the victims are 15 years of age or younger. The largest percentage, 47 percent, of injuries from swimming pool accidents happen on residential property as compared to public pools operated by homeowner associations, apartment complexes, and hotels and motels which account for 27 percent.
There are steps that property owners can take to prevent swimming pool accidents from happening. One of the keys to keeping children safe in and around swimming pools is to provide adult supervision for them. Drownings and injuries from swimming pool accidents can happen very quickly, so adults must be vigilant when supervising children. Reading a book, talking to another person or other distractions can it possible for a child to slip into the water and drown before anyone realizes what has happened.
Other things people can do to avoid swimming pool accidents include:
• Install a fence: Most building codes require the installation of a fence that is at least four feet tall with a self-locking gate around in-ground pools, but any type of pool should be surrounded by a fence even if not required by the local municipality. Even portable or inflatable pools pose a risk of death or injury for children who can fall against the collapsible side of the pool and end up face down in the water.
• Look before you dive: Children and adults should be encouraged to check the depth of the water before diving into a swimming pool. Diving into water that is less than six feet deep could result in serious injuries to the head, neck and spine.
• Avoid alcohol: The consumption of too much alcohol can lead to people engaging in reckless and unsafe behavior in and around a swimming pool that can lead to injury or death.
• Keep a telephone close by: A cellphone or portable phone should be nearby to be used to call 911 in the event of an emergency.
• Maintain the pool and equipment: Drain covers should be checked periodically to ensure that hands and feet cannot get stuck or cut. Electrical connections, including wiring for underwater lights, should be checked by a licensed electrician to ensure the swimming pool and the surrounding area is free from electrocution hazards.
Using these safety measures can make swimming pools and outdoor spas safer places for children and adults. When accidents do happen, the owners and managers of the swimming pool or complex might be liable for the injuries suffered by a victim. The facts and circumstances surrounding the accident would determine if the injuries were caused by someone’s negligence.
The Tampa injury attorneys at the office of Carlson Meissner Hart & Hayslett, P.A. have the skill and experience you need for results. We represent swimming pool accident victims and families throughout Tampa Bay, providing compassionate counsel and aggressive legal advocacy. We have 5 convenient offices, including Tampa, Clearwater, Bradenton, New Port Richey and Spring Hill Call 877-728-9653 for a free consultation and case evaluation. For more information, please visit CarlsonMeissner.com
MaryAnn Bounacos, Carlson, Meissner, Hart & Hayslett, P.A., http://www.carlsonmeissner.com, +1 727-443-1562, [email protected]
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