April 17, 2012
With the weather warming up, children are flocking to local pools. However, swimming carries many dangers, and Safe Kids USA estimates that 745 children died from drowning in 2008 alone.
KVUE News reports that a 3-year-old Austin child suffered critical injuries around 3:00 p.m. Saturday at a backyard pool off of Lost Creek Boulevard. Reports indicate that the child was rushed to Dell Children’s Hospital for treatment.
The Texas Brain Injury Lawyers with Daniel Stark Injury Lawyers say that brain damage is the most common type of injury that results from drowning and near-drowning accidents due to a lack of oxygen making it to the brain. Brain injuries also are common in diving accidents due to the impact of the head hitting the bottom of the pool. They suggest these tips to help prevent such accidents:
- Install fencing at least four feet high around the pool area.
- Make sure the gate is locked when the pool is not in use.
- Install a pool alarm to alert you if someone falls in.
- Remove all toys from the pool area.
- Never leave a pool cover partially open.
- Adhere to diving rules.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is also working to battle this problem by promoting a campaign called Pool Safely. The agency says the campaign educates both children and adults on what they can do to stay safe and save lives near pools and other bodies of water.
