Summer months mean vacation time and lazy days beating the heat beside a swimming pool. But swimming pools do not come without a significant increase in drowning danger and property liability due known as “attractive nuisance.” An attractive nuisance is any feature of a property that could cause injury or death to a child who does not recognize the inherent danger.
According to the CDC, from 2005 to 2014 over 3,500 people died from non-boating related drowning accidents every year, nearly ten people per day. One out of every five of those people were aged 14 or younger. The highest drowning rate was amongst children ages 1-4, and drowning remains the second-largest cause of unintentional death for children ages 1-14, only behind motor vehicle crashes.
Tips for Preparation
So how can you avoid having your property’s swimming pool become part of these statistics? Securing your pool to avoid any accidental drowning deaths is not only important, but you have a legal responsibility to do so as a property owner. The most important thing to do is install barriers around your pool area that prevent young children from being able to access the pool without supervision. This includes gates with latches that are well out of the reach of young children, or locked. The CDC strongly advises “four-sided” fencing that completely separates the pool area from the rest of the yard.
When your pool is in use, particularly by young children, make sure you never leave it unattended. Keep an eye on any younger children in the pool and make sure you have lifesaving tools and devices available and easily accessible should an emergency happen. Likewise, make sure you have floatation devices like life jackets available for young children and people who cannot swim. Remember, inflatable floatation devices are not lifesaving devices.
If you have young children, enrolling them in formal swimming instruction has been shown to dramatically reduce drowning deaths and injuries. On that same note, you as a property owner should learn and be capable of performing CPR on a moment’s notice. CPR has been shown to save lives and significantly improve the chance of escaping a drowning incident without any lasting injuries.
If Your Child has Been Hurt
If your child has been hurt in a drowning accident on someone else’s property, it is important to make sure you retain legal advice in order to determine what your rights are and what your claim options might be. A skilled Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help you with your case by analyzing all of the evidence available and developing a compelling case to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC is an Atlanta personal injury firm that has helped numerous clients with drowning cases, including both catastrophic injuries and deaths. Our firm has recovered well over $400 Million in verdicts, awards, and settlements, and we hold the highest ratings in ethical standards. We are proud to have received an AV® Preeminent™ Rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and have been selected to Georgia’s list of Super Lawyers®.
If you need assistance with a drowning claim, contact Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC online or call us 24/7 at (888) 425-6070 for a case evaluation.