The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently released its annual drowning and submersion report. Fatal drownings and nonfatal drowning injuries remain high for children under age 15; child drownings continue to be the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 years old.
There were approximately 6,300 nonfatal drowning injuries treated in hospital emergency departments each year from 2020-2022. 76% involved children younger than age 5. When location was known, 80% of the reported child drownings happened in residential settings, such as the victim’s home or the home of a family member, friend, or neighbor. 91% of those drownings occurred in children under age 5.
Designate a Water Watcher
It’s easy for the noise and confusion of a pool party or backyard barbecue to make everyone think that someone else is watching the kids in the water. Always designate an adult to be the water watcher. This person shouldn’t be distracted by using their phone, reading, or other activities. If they need to take a break, they should let others know and designate a different water watcher. Pool Safely recommends designating a water watcher in all water environments; in addition to pools and spas, this includes bathtubs, decorative ponds, fountains, buckets, kiddie pools, and more.
Focus on Water Safety
Using layers of protection can help prevent children from drowning. This means installing proper barriers, covers, and alarms on/around your pool and designating an adult to supervise children in the water.
Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults. Make sure your child learns how to swim. If you don’t know how to swim, take the time to learn! Keep kids away from pool drains, pipes, and other openings to prevent entrapments. Ensure the pool has drain covers that comply with federal safety standards. You can learn more about pool and water safety on the Pool Safely website.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
