Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
According to a new US Consumer Product Safety Commission report, the majority of child drowning deaths are taking place in backyard pools. Drowning remains the number one cause of accidental child deaths for kids between ages 1 and 4 and minorities.
At Altman & Altman, LLP, Boston personal injury lawyers represent the families of kids injured or killed in a Massachusetts drowning accident. We handle pool and spa drowning incidents involving premises liability, products liability, negligence and wrongful death.
Per the CPSC’s latest findings:
• Over 75% of spa and pool submersion deaths involved kids under the age of 5 • 78% of spa and pool submersion injuries involve kids ages 14 and under • There have been no entrapment fatalities since 2008 • 85% of child drowning deaths happened in spas and residential pools • 50% of kid drowning injuries happened at private residences • Hispanic and African-American kids (belonging the 5 to 14 age group) have a higher risk of drowning than other kids. A main reason for this was that many of these children did not know how to swim.
Some causes of Massachusetts drowning deaths in hot tubs and pools:
• Inadequate supervision • Unlocked pool and spa gates • Fences that failed to keep kids out • Inadequate safety or rescue equipment • Failure to warn about pool depths • Poorly trained or inexperienced lifeguards • Improper maintenance or cleaning • Defective diving boards, pool slides, and ladders
Aside from Boston drowning deaths, near drowning accidents can also cause serious injuries, including traumatic brain injury, head trauma, spinal cord injury, and paralysis.
Other types of injuries can also occur if someone is involving in a Boston slip and fall incident at a swimming area. This can happen if the ground is unusually wet and someone slips and strikes the ground or falls into the pool.
With summer almost here, it is important that pool and spa owners fulfill their duty of making sure that their premises are safe for swimmers and visitors. If you believe that negligence on anyone’s part caused a Boston pool drowning, contact our Massachusetts personal injury law firm today.
A Call to Action From CPSC: Teach All Children How To Swim and Put a Fence Around All Pools, CPSC, May 22, 2013
Pool or Spa Submersion Report (PDF)
More Blog Posts:
Massachusetts Student’s Drowning Raises Concerns about Pool Safety, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, April 10, 2013
At Least 137 Fatal Drownings and168 Near Drownings Involving Kids in Pools and Spas Have Already Occurred This Summer, Says Media, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, September 15, 2012
Brockton Teen Fatally Drowns in Plymouth, Massachusetts During Church Camping Trip, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, June 9, 2012
