A 3-year-old boy suffered injuries in swimming pool accident the afternoon of March 23, 2011. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, the near-drowning incident occurred in a backyard pool in the 48800 block of Legacy Drive in La Quinta. The child was breathing and conscious when taken to the hospital. Officials are looking into what caused this near-drowning incident.
It is indeed fortunate that this did not turn into a fatal incident. My thoughts and prayers are with this little boy. I sincerely hope he makes a quick and complete recovery.
Swimming Pool Accident Statistics
According to a 2007 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 3,443 fatal unintentional drowning incidents in the United States. The report also states that fatal drowning is the “second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years.” Nonfatal drowning incidents or near-drowning can cause brain injuries and brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning.
Preventing Drowning and Near-Drowning Incidents
According to CDC, the main cause of these tragic swimming pool accidents is the lack of barriers and supervision. Among children between the ages of 1 and 4, most drowning incidents occur in residential swimming pools. Most young children who drowned in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight for less than five minutes and were in the care of both parents at the time. Barriers such as pool fencing and gates with working locks can help prevent children from gaining access to the pool area. Supervision is extremely important as well. Drowning incidents have occurred in cases where the caregiver had taken his or her eye off the child for a barely a minute or two. Drowning can happen quickly and silently within a matter of seconds.
Liability Issues
Remember, if a swimming pool accident occurs on your watch and on your property, you could be held liable for the injuries and damages. If you own a swimming pool property, it would be in your best interests to install safety barriers before the spring and summer months. If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident, please contact an experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights. With spring just around the corner, this incident is another reminder for all of us to be extremely vigilant when it comes to swimming pools and our little ones.
Seriously injured in a Riverside County accident? Want to know if you have a case? Want to know what your case is worth? Want compensation for your injuries? Want justice? Want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else?
Call your best friends in the legal industry after a Riverside swimming pool accident. Call 800-561-4887. The call is free. The advice may be priceless.
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