Pool Safety | www.reinerinjurylaw.com

May is National Water Safety Month

Posted under: Pool Safety — tslaughter @ 9:07 am

May has been declared as Water Safety Month in 34 states in an effort to focus awareness on safety issues that arise during the summer months when Americans enjoy their pools, spas, beaches, rivers and lakes. Interestingly, California has not yet joined or proclaimed its recognition of this national effort to date. The campaign is sponsored by The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, the National Recreation and Park Association, and the World Waterpark Association. Their joint website offers good tips on water safety. Their focus is on the education and training of children and adults in good, safe water recreation practices.

Every year we re-emphasize the importance of safe practices around the water. We are blessed in Northern California to have numerous rivers, lakes and beaches where water recreation abounds. Additionally, because of the warmness of our summers, pools are everywhere. For this reason we like to re-publish a list of common sense safety tips.

Safety Tips

1. Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool. During social gatherings, appoint a “designated watcher” to sit poolside with undivided attention to young children in or about the pool. Distracted or preoccupied adults put children at risk.

2. If a child is missing, check the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom and surface, as well as the pool area.

3. Do not allow a young child in the pool without an adult.

4. Do not consider a child “drown proof” because he has had swim lessons. Children must be closely watched while swimming.

5. Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.

6. Keep rescue equipment by the pool.

7. Remove toys from in and around the pool when it is not in use. Toys attract young children.

8. Never prop open the gate to a pool barrier.

Remember, a few minutes of thought and planning can save a family from a life-time of guilt, regret and remorse.

Comments Off

Pool and Spa Safety Law re Drain Entrapments Now In Force

Posted under: Pool Safety — tslaughter @ 10:12 am

On December 19, 2007, the Federal government enacted the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act which requires public pools and spas to be outfitted with anti-entrapment drain systems. Prior to this enactment, several deaths had been reported nationwide primarily involving children in spas where hair or other body parts became entangled in drain covers. In enacting this law, Congress allowed one year for public pools and spas to comply. That deadline is December 19, 2008.

The new law requires public pools and spas to have ASME/ANSI A112.19.9-2007 compliant drain covers installed. If the pool or spa has only one drain, a second anti-entrapment drain must also be installed.

Tens of thousands of public pools and spas must be in compliance. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is the enforcing agency. Given the lack of resources available for enforcement, it is likely that public pools and spas that are attractive to children will be targeted first. Failure to comply will result in closure of the facility. See CPSC bulletin.

This new safety law is of critical importance, particularly in the Northern California where public pools and spas abound. If you believe that a public facility is not in compliance with the law, please feel free to contact the Redding lawyers at Reiner, Simpson & Slaughter. We would be happy to advise the facility of the requirements of the law to prompt their compliance.

If you own a spa, it may be a good idea to obtain an anti-entrapment drain cover. We have not yet checked if these are available through local retail outlets. If you have information on this, we would appreciate hearing from you.

Comments Off

Target Recalls Swimming Pool Dive Sticks

Posted under: Pool Safety, Product Recall — tslaughter @ 11:51 am

Target stores issed a recall notice today for toy “dive sticks” that were sold in their stores from April 2008 through August 2008. These are 8-12″ plastic sticks weighted on one end so that they will stand on end at the bottom of a swimming pool. Swimmers are encouraged to participate in “diving games” to retrieve the sticks. Unfortunately, the dive sticks pose a significant impalement hazard to kids playing with them. Reports of facial and eye injuries have been made.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, pre-weighted dive sticks have been band by the agency since 2001. About 365,000 of these Chinese manufactured toys were sold at Target stores nationwide this last summer for about $1 a set.

Consumers who have these products should remove them from children or from their “pool accessories” immediately. They can be returned to Target for a full refund.

If you have a pool, and are looking to discard these toys, this would also be a good time to assess the potential dangers of other pool toys and accessories. Common sense recommendations regarding pool safety can be found at our prior post.

Comments Off

High Number of Kids Hurt Diving into Pools

Posted under: Pool Safety — tslaughter @ 9:48 am

Every summer, every pool owner in Northern California wonders what can be done to minimize injuries to kids enjoying their hot summers in and around pools. Not everything can be anticipated. However, a recent study published in the August edition of the medical journal, Pediatrics, sheds light on the types of diving-activities that most commonly result in a trip to the emergency room.

The study encompassed a 16 year period from 1990 to 2006 and determined that an average of 6,500 adolescents made trips to the emergency room with diving-related injuries per year. Notably, the vast majority of the injuries occurred from diving from a height of 1 meter or less.

Approximately 58% of injuries treated were for cuts or bruises. The leading cause was hitting the diving board or platform. About 5% of diving injuries required hospitalization.

Regarding manner of injury, the study revealed that approximately 70% arose from head first dives, 18 percent from jumps, and 12 percent from flips or handstands.

Previous studies on catastrophic neck injuries have shown a profile of the diver most likely to suffer devastating spinal injuries from diving into a pool. Tall male adolscents are the divers most at risk. Such divers must be cautioned to know the depth into which they are diving, to not dive outwardly if the shallow end comes up abruptly, and to simply not dive if there are any concerns about safety.

In addition to cataloging the types of diving-related injuries being commonly seen, Pediatriacs urged much greater parent participation in monitoring conduct around the pool and the teaching of safe diving techniques and behaviours to children.

For more “pool safety tips,” see our previous post.

Comments (0)

Pool Safety Prevents Tragedies in the Redding, California Heat

Posted under: Pool Safety — rreiner @ 2:31 pm

As this summer will be another blistering hot episode for the Redding, California area, swimming pools will be a popular venue for outdoor activity. While pools are a great source for entertainment and beating the heat, they can be dangerous.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death of children under the age of 5 in California, Arizona and Florida. Each year more than 300 children in this age group drown in residential swimming pools, usually a pool owned by their family. More than 2,000 children in this group are treated in hospital emergency rooms for submersion injuries.

As families, friends and neighbors often gather in backyards for informal get-togethers this summer, there is often a pool where the children are left free to swim and play. Adults may be socializing, barbequing, or attending to a simple chore, such as answering the phone, when catastrophe occurs.

Following some of the following simple safety precautions could prevent such a mishap from occurring during your gathering.

Safety Tips

1. Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool. During social gatherings, appoint a “designated watcher” to sit poolside with undivided attention to young children in or about the pool. Distracted or preoccupied adults put children at risk.

2. If a child is missing, check the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom and surface, as well as the pool area.

3. Do not allow a young child in the pool without an adult.

4. Do not consider a child “drown proof” because he has had swim lessons. Children must be closely watched while swimming.

5. Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.

6. Keep rescue equipment by the pool.

7. Remove toys from in and around the pool when it is not in use. Toys attract young children.

8. Never prop open the gate to a pool barrier.

Remember, a few minutes of thought and planning about the potential dangers that pools present to children can save a family from a life-time of guilt, regret and remorse.

As this summer will be another blistering hot episode for the Redding, California area, swimming pools will be a popular venue for outdoor activity. While pools are a great source for entertainment and beating the heat, they can be dangerous.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death of children under the age of 5 in California, Arizona and Florida. Each year more than 300 children in this age group drown in residential swimming pools, usually a pool owned by their family. More than 2,000 children in this group are treated in hospital emergency rooms for submersion injuries.

As families, friends and neighbors often gather in backyards for informal get-togethers this summer, there is often a pool where the children are left free to swim and play. Adults may be socializing, barbequing, or attending to a simple chore, such as answering the phone, when catastrophe occurs.

Following some of the following simple safety precautions could prevent such a mishap from occurring during your gathering.

Safety Tips

1. Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool. During social gatherings, appoint a “designated watcher” to sit poolside with undivided attention to young children in or about the pool. Distracted or preoccupied adults put children at risk.

2. If a child is missing, check the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom and surface, as well as the pool area.

3. Do not allow a young child in the pool without an adult.

4. Do not consider a child “drown proof” because he has had swim lessons. Children must be closely watched while swimming.

5. Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.

6. Keep rescue equipment by the pool.

7. Remove toys from in and around the pool when it is not in use. Toys attract young children.

8. Never prop open the gate to a pool barrier.

Remember, a few minutes of thought and planning about the potential dangers that pools present to children can save a family from a life-time of guilt, regret and remorse.

Comments (0)

Blog

May 14, 2009

May is National Water Safety Month

December 24, 2008

Pool and Spa Safety Law re Drain Entrapments Now In Force

November 19, 2008

Target Recalls Swimming Pool Dive Sticks

August 10, 2008

High Number of Kids Hurt Diving into Pools

June 5, 2008

Pool Safety Prevents Tragedies in the Redding, California Heat