Summer is right around the corner and that means the chance to spend more time outdoors and more time swimming and sunning in the beaches, rivers, lakes, and pools all across North Carolina. As fun as swimming and other water activities can be, it is critical to remember that activities around water can also be dangerous if safety rules aren’t adhered to, especially for children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the number one cause of death for children between the ages of one to four and the second leading cause of death for children between the ages of five to 14. These are tragic accidents that could often be prevented if the proper safety measures were put in place.
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The following tips will help keep your children safe if they will be around water this summer:
Water Safety: Teaching your children what they should do when they are in or around water is one of the best ways to keep them safe from injury and drowning. Your child is never too young to learn – even babies can be taught how to float on their back when they are in water and young children can be taught how to swim. Many local recreation centers offer affordable swimming lessons.
Set Rules: Parents should have rules for children when it comes to water safety and these rules should always be in place, no exceptions. Children should know to never go near a pool or any type of body of water unless a parent or other qualified adult is with them. Children should also be very aware of what their abilities and limits are with how well they can swim.
Life Jackets: Children should always wear life jackets when they are around water, especially if they do not know how to swim. Even children who can swim should wear life jackets when they are around lakes, oceans, or rivers. Make sure the life jackets are U.S. Coast Guard-approved.
Always Supervise: Parents should always keep constant supervision on their children when around water. All it takes is a split second of looking away for a tragic accident to occur. Parents should avoid activities that will distract their full focus on supervising their children, such as talking or texting. Drinking alcohol should also be avoided when a parent is responsible for watching out for their child.
Pool Fence: If you have a pool, there should be a high, four-sided fence with self-latching and self-closing gates. Municipalities usually have requirements that property owners must follow if they have a pool and generally require fences to be at least four feet high. Pool fences should also be climb-resistant in order to ensure children will not try to sneak into the pool by jumping over the fence.
Contact a Carolina Injury Attorney
If you or a family member has been injured in a pool accident, contact a seasoned North Carolina premises liability attorney to discuss what legal recourse you may have. Even if it is not entirely clear who is the at-fault party, a Carolinas injury attorney will be able to determine which party or parties are liable. At Shapiro & Appleton, our injury attorneys have successfully represented numerous accident victims and have the legal expertise to handle these complex cases with positive results. Call (833) 997-1774 for a free case evaluation.