Tips To Prevent Accidental Drownings In Your Pool
Mark A. Steinberg
Premises Liability
Many homes in Sarasota and other parts of Florida have swimming pools. Homeowners buy houses with them already built or elect to have them installed later on. The spots give them places to relax, unwind, and beat the heat. But, of course, not all homeowners the keep crisp, refreshing waters to themselves. Nope, sometimes, people invite friends and family over to join the fun. Then again, there are also occasions where individuals throw block parties for anyone and everyone to enjoy. The point is that there are lots of swimming pools here and if you happen to own one, good for you. There's certainly nothing wrong with that. However, if you don't take various precautions, you could find yourself in a world of trouble. That's because if a child or someone else slips in the backyard and goes for a dip, they could accidentally drown.
Unfortunately, such events are becoming all too common in The Sunshine State. According to FloridaHealth.org, enough children drown in Florida annually to fill three to four preschool classrooms. Meanwhile, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that drowning is the most common cause of death, aside from birth defects, in children between one and four years of age. So, as you can see, these issues happen pretty regularly. If someone gets hurt on your property, they may be entitled to fair compensation because of premises liability law.
Additionally, if a person's family member dies in the pool, they might have the grounds to seek restitution as well. Then, you could have to face an accident lawyer from our firm in court. That's not why we're here today, though. Instead, our main objective is to prevent accidental drowning. Hence, if that has your interest piqued, please, stick around and read on to learn more. Perhaps one or more of these tips can benefit you.
Build A Fence To Enclose The Pool
One way to keep most people safely out of harm's way when it comes to a swimming pool is by building a fence around it. But, notice that we did say most. That is because some individuals could hop the barrier. However, if something were to happen in a situation like this, you probably wouldn't be held liable because they were trespassing. Let's get back to the topic at hand, though, the fence. It can limit who has access to the pool and keep accidental drownings at bay with any luck.
Use The Buddy System
Surely you have heard about the buddy system at some point in your life. In layman's terms, it is where people only do things in pairs so they can watch each others' backs. Thus, if you have children, never let them swim alone. The same can be said for when other kids come over to play or even when adults visit. Of course, you shouldn't swim by yourself whenever possible either. When people are watching out for one another, drownings/aquatic injuries are less likely to happen.
Supervise Gatherings Closely
If you're throwing a backyard bash in Sarasota and alcohol will be involved, be sure to have at least one responsible adult to supervise. He or she can be called a designated lifeguard, guardian, or whatever you want. Just have them on duty to spring into action if something goes wrong, and hopefully, that will stop drownings in their tracks.
If you lose a loved one in an accidental drowning because of someone's negligence, don't hesitate to contact All Injuries Law Firm, P.A. After doing so, you will be able to schedule a free case evaluation with a personal injury attorney. Then, they'll be able to inform you of your legal options.