Greeting Summer in a Responsible Way

While summer won’t officially commence until June 21st, it sure feels like summer down here in the sunshine state! Though we are blessed with beautiful weather all year long, the summer months in South Florida comprise a time when we especially appreciate methods of cooling off, such as taking a swim.  Swimming anywhere—in an ocean, lake, or pool—a can be a real luxury during sweltering hot days, but it can also be incredibly dangerous. Because of this, it is no surprise that having a swimming pool is a huge liability.

Let’s start our discussion of swimming safety with some facts from the Center for Disease Control pertaining to water safety (or lack thereof) incidents.

1. In a recent study, the CDC found that in the US, roughly 10 people die every day due to drowning (note: this does not include boating incidents).

2. Of that average of roughly 10 people who die per day from drowning, roughly 20% of the fatalities are children under the age of 14 and, for every child who does die due to drowning, another five receive emergency medical care due to the non-fatal submersion-in-water accidents.

3. Based on the study conducted by the CDC, the overwhelming majority of people who die from drowning in the US, about 80%, are males.

4. Another hard-hit demographic are young children. Roughly 30% of children ages 1-4, who die from unintentional injuries, die from drowning.

Now that we understand swimming can be dangerous if not taken seriously, let’s take a look at some of the prime reasons behind drowning deaths.

1. First and foremost, people often drown due to lack of swimming ability. As a general rule, if you’re not capable of swimming independently, you probably shouldn’t be in a swimming pool without an instructor or fully capable loved one giving you their full attention.

2. Relatedly, another reason people drown is due to a lack of supervision. Drowning can take place unexpectedly, and if someone is in need of help, and there is nobody there to provide assistance, tragedy can ensue.

3. Finally, incapacitation of any sort can seriously diminish your ability to function anywhere—especially in a pool. Alcohol use and drug use – even when legal – can seriously limit your motor skills and can lead to serious, even fatal, consequences.

Let’s finish this post by looking at the private swimming pool, an amenity that is luxurious yet laden with liability. If you own a swimming pool, it is your responsibility to maintain the pool as a safe area. Therefore, any negligence on your part in terms of pool safety that leads to the injury or death of another may very well implicate you in the cause of injury or death. Here are some tips for making sure your pool area is the safest it can be.

1. Make sure that you have a gate around your pool so that unwanted guests and young children can’t just enter the pool. Relatedly, make sure you have life saving devices such as flotation devices and a First Aid kit in close proximity to the pool.

2. Clear toys from the pool so that young children won’t be drawn toward the pool area.

3. Make sure that everyone using your pool is a proficient swimmer. Remember, their lack of swimming ability won’t mitigate your liability for any injuries they may incur while using your pool.

4. Lastly, always maintain your pool’s physical safety by checking its water levels and ensuring that it is free from harmful materials such as glass, metal scraps, etc.

We’re glad the weather is getting up to summer temperatures and we encourage everyone to stay as cool as possible. That said, we always stress safety and want to make sure that our neighbors and friends across the country have all the information they need to stay as safe as possible.

If you have any questions pertaining to the law surrounding water safety, please reach out to us for a free consultation at 561-266-9191 or daronberg@build.simple.biz.

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