The annual drowning and submersion report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) highlights the importance of water safety. The report found that child drowning remains the leading cause of unintentional fatality for children ages one to four.
Exercise Extra Vigilance
CPSC cautions parents and caregivers to be extra vigilant around water this summer, noting that last summer’s social distancing restrictions may have impacted children’s swimming and water safety skills.
The report showed an average of 397 reported pool/spa-related drowning deaths per year for 2016-2018 for children younger than 15. 75% of these reported drownings involved children younger than five years old. 83% of drowning deaths for children younger than five occurred at residential pools.
Pool Safety Tips
Pool Safely offers the following water safety tips for parents and caregivers:
- Don’t leave your child unattended in or near water.
- Always designate an adult to watch children near water, including bathtubs, decorative ponds, and fountains.
- Learn how to perform CPR on both children and adults.
- Teach your children how to swim.
- Make sure that any pool/spa you use has drain covers that comply with current federal safety standards.
- Use barriers such as pool covers, self-latching devices on gates, and/or door alarms to prevent an unsupervised child from accessing your pool.
- Don’t allow kids to get close to pool drains, pipes, or other openings to prevent entrapments.
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.
