When you want to relax, have fun, and beat the Florida heat, a swimming pool makes a great choice. However, safe swimming presents a considerable challenge. Sadly, Florida ranks sixth in the nation for accidental drowning, including fifth for children under 17 and first for children under four.
While drowning deaths are the worst-case scenario, swimming pools possess the potential for other serious injuries, including slip-and-fall incidents and diving accidents.
To address those grim statistics and reduce the need for an accidents lawyer, let’s look at ways to prevent swimming pool accidents.
Keep an Eye on the Weather
Water and lightning make a dangerous combination. If you notice lightning or thunder, you should clear everyone out of the pool for a minimum of a half-hour.
Check for Damage
Do a thorough once-over of the pool and surrounding area. Ensure that pool lights, filters, sliding boards, diving boards, ladders, and all other equipment are in good working order and free from damage.
Be sure to repair or replace any malfunctioning or broken equipment that could present a hazard. You may have to shut down the pool temporarily, but a few days on dry land beats an accident or injury that you or your children could have avoided.
Keep it Clean
Make sure to clear any access clutter from the deck area to reduce potential slip-and-fall hazards. You should also clear away any pool or other toys when not in use. Kids love toys, and you don’t want them to wander near the pool without adult supervision.
Playtime can take a tragic turn in the blink of an eye. Be sure to keep the pool surroundings clean, clear, safe, and temptation-free.
Watch Closely and Constantly
Never allow children to swim without a responsible adult at the poolside. Although you may want to surf social media or read a few pages of the latest bestseller, save any distractions until the kids clear out of the pool. As the supervising adult, you need to remain alert and avoid any sort of distraction.
You should be close enough to reach for young kids or those who are not confident in their swimming abilities. In case of panic or struggle, make sure that you are accessible in an instant.
Buddy Up
Adults are fine to swim on their own, though, right? Please don’t risk it. You may be a strong swimmer, but that doesn’t mean you’re immune to swimming pool accidents. Be sure to share your dip in the pool with someone who can offer a hand or call for help if needed.
Provide Safety Devices
Inflatable rafts, blow-up toys, and foam pool noodles can be fun, but they do not replace legitimate safety devices. Keep a few life jackets or life preservers handy, just in case.
Learn CPR
You should have an adult on site who knows and can perform CPR. The American Red Cross provides CPR training at a variety of locations throughout the state of Florida. If none of your friends or family members has CPR skills, you can be the one to step up. Though you can call 911 in the event of an emergency, performing CPR until the paramedics arrive may mean the difference between life and death.
Show Some Depth
Indicate the depth of the shallow and deep ends in your backyard pool. Adults who aren’t strong swimmers will likely prefer the shallow end, so let them know where to hang out for maximum safety and comfort.
Also, keep in mind that you should never dive in water less than six feet deep. As a reminder to guests, a “NO DIVING” sign can’t hurt.
Don’t Overdo It
When kids get in the pool, they seem like they can swim and splash all day. Adults can be the same way. You start having fun with family and friends, and you don’t want it to end.
Make sure you know when to say when. Watch out for signs of dehydration, overheating, and exhaustion in children, your guests, and yourself. Take a break for a snack and a cold beverage, but keep alcohol to a minimum.
Spend a few minutes in the shade. Enjoy some relaxation on a lounge chair poolside instead of in the water. Don’t let fun turn to tragedy by allowing anyone — including yourself — to push past the safety limits.
Cohen and Juda, P.A.: We Will Represent You Personally
When you need a personal injury attorney for accidents in Broward County, Florida, reach out to Cohen and Juda, P.A.
If you or a family member has suffered a serious injury in a swimming pool accident, we are here for you. With more than 30 years of experience on our side, we have resolved millions of dollars in cases through trial and settlement.
After reviewing the details of your case, we will file a personal injury suit to pursue compensation and provide you with some peace of mind. We value our relationships with our clients. When you retain the services of our law firm, Mr. Cohen and Mr. Juda will represent you personally.
Schedule your free consultation by completing our online form or calling our Plantation, Florida, office at 954-424-1440. At Cohen and Juda, we operate on contingency fees, which means that you will never need to pay us until and unless we have won your case and you’ve received your compensation award.
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The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
Cohen and Juda P.A.
8211 W Broward Blvd, Suite 310
Plantation, FL 33324
954-424-1440
https://www.cohenandjudaflorida.com/