Swimming Pool Injuries

Be Aware that Drowning Happens in Shallow Water Too

Parents should be aware that a drowning can occur in only 2 inches of water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• About 350 children under the age of 5 drown in pools each year.
  
• Another 2,600 are treated in hospitals for near-drowning incidents.
  
• Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of death after auto accidents for children under the age of 5.
  
• Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of death for all children between the ages of 1 and 14.
  
• A majority of drowning accidents occur in backyard pools.
  
• Near-drownings can cause severe brain damage, memory problems and learning disorders.
  
• Near-drownings can cause death at a later time due to complications of the chemistry in the lungs.
  
• In 2004 males accounted for 78% of accident fatal drownings.
  
• Of all the children under the age of 5, 26% of the annual deaths are the cause of accidental drownings.
  
• For those with seizure disorders, drowning is the number 1 cause of death. Most deaths occur in bathtubs.
  
• Alcohol is involved in 25% to 50% of teenage and adult fatal drowning accidents.
  

If you or a loved one is the victim of a poolside or other aquatic accident, it may be important to investigate the accident immediately to determine exactly what happened and why it was allowed to happen. Unfortunately, evidence in a swimming pool and other aquatic accidents disappears quickly and must be investigated immediately by the right experts. Some of this evidence may include water chemicals, the visibility through the water, the flow of water through water attractions, drain filtration systems, and much of this evidence can disappear if not investigated and preserved immediately.