More than 200 children under age 15 drowned in pools and spas between Memorial Day and Labor Day this year in the U.S., at least 24 of them in the state of Florida.
Florida ranks second only to Texas in the number of child drownings, according to data compiled by the USA Swimming Foundation. Of the 202 confirmed deaths due to drowning in pools and spas during the traditional “pool” season across the nation, 143 of them were younger than age five.
States with the highest number of pool and spa drownings among children under age 15:
Texas (28)
Florida (24)
California (23)
Ohio (11)
New York (11)
Drowning is the leading cause of death among children age one to four years and second leading cause of death for children aged five to 14. Only automobile accidents claim more lives for children in this age group.
While most outdoor swimming pools throughout the country are now closed for the season, many pools in warm weather states such as Florida remain open year-round. That means the risk for child drowning remains high and consequently, the need for heightened pool safety protocol.
In its Pool Safety campaign, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) makes the following recommendations for parents and pool owners:
Make sure pools are fenced
Watch your children closely, stay alert
Never leave a child unattended, even for short periods of time
Designate a responsible adult to supervise children
Learn to swim
Teach your child to swim
Learn CPR
Keep children away from pipes and drains
Make sure the pool has drain covers that comply with federally regulated safety standards
The Pool Safely campaign is particularly focused on raising awareness among populations most at-risk for drowning, including African American children aged five to 19, who are six times more likely to drown than other children that age.
Perhaps the most important action parents can take to decrease the likelihood of their child drowning is to teach him or her to swim. According to data from the USA Swimming Foundation, as many as seven in 10 African American children, as well as 60 percent of Hispanic and 40 percent of white children in the U.S., cannot swim. Simply put, children who cannot swim are more likely to drown. Most municipalities throughout Florida and the rest of the country have low-cost swimming lessons available to children through Parks and Recreation Departments.
Public pools are obligated to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act (VGBA), a law that mandates certain safety requirements aimed at reducing the incidents of suction entrapment incidents, injuries and drowning deaths. The Act was introduced by Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz following the 2002 drowning death of a young girl when the suction from a spa drain trapped her under the water. The law took effect in December 2009.
Injuries or death to a loved one involving a pool or spa can raise a myriad of complex legal issues regarding the liability of the property owner. Please contact the office of The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic for answers to your questions.
Sources:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (cpsc.gov)
More than 200 children under age 15 drowned in pools and spas between Memorial Day and Labor Day this year in the U.S., at least 24 of them in the state of Florida.
Florida ranks second only to Texas in the number of child drownings, according to data compiled by the USA Swimming Foundation. Of the 202 confirmed deaths due to drowning in pools and spas during the traditional “pool” season across the nation, 143 of them were younger than age five.
States with the highest number of pool and spa drownings among children under age 15:
Drowning is the leading cause of death among children age one to four years and second leading cause of death for children aged five to 14. Only automobile accidents claim more lives for children in this age group.
While most outdoor swimming pools throughout the country are now closed for the season, many pools in warm weather states such as Florida remain open year-round. That means the risk for child drowning remains high and consequently, the need for heightened pool safety protocol.
In its Pool Safety campaign, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) makes the following recommendations for parents and pool owners:
The Pool Safely campaign is particularly focused on raising awareness among populations most at-risk for drowning, including African American children aged five to 19, who are six times more likely to drown than other children that age.
Perhaps the most important action parents can take to decrease the likelihood of their child drowning is to teach him or her to swim. According to data from the USA Swimming Foundation, as many as seven in 10 African American children, as well as 60 percent of Hispanic and 40 percent of white children in the U.S., cannot swim. Simply put, children who cannot swim are more likely to drown. Most municipalities throughout Florida and the rest of the country have low-cost swimming lessons available to children through Parks and Recreation Departments.
Public pools are obligated to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act (VGBA), a law that mandates certain safety requirements aimed at reducing the incidents of suction entrapment incidents, injuries and drowning deaths. The Act was introduced by Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz following the 2002 drowning death of a young girl when the suction from a spa drain trapped her under the water. The law took effect in December 2009.
Injuries or death to a loved one involving a pool or spa can raise a myriad of complex legal issues regarding the liability of the property owner. Please contact the office of The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic for answers to your questions.
Sources: