The leading cause of injury leading to death among children ages 1–4 is drowning.

• Drowning death rate among children ages 1–4 is the highest in the nation.
• In 2012, 440 Florida residents drowned. There were an additional 343 hospitalizations for non-fatal drownings. Children 1–4 make up 13% of the deaths and 44% of the hospitalizations.

The deep loss or severe injury to somebody because of a drowning incident is grievous. Drownings usually involve infants and can happen primarily in swimming pools, but children can drown in

• Bathtubs
• Toilets
• Sinks
• buckets
• transportable pools
• hot tubs, etc.

Statistics overwhelmingly show that drowning is a huge problem according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• From 2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States — about ten deaths per day. An additional 332 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents.
• About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
• More than 50% of drowning victims treated in emergency departments (EDs) require hospitalization or transfer for further care (compared with a hospitalization rate of about 6% for all unintentional injuries). These nonfatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g., permanent vegetative state).3,4

COMMON CAUSES OF DROWNING ACCIDENTS

• Inability to swim
• Panic in the water
• Unattended children
• Unattended baths
• Falling through ice
• Alcohol consumption
• Concussions, seizures, or heart attacks
• Suicide
• Lifeguard negligence
• Improper training of lifeguards
• Lack of proper safety measures
• Overcrowded pools
• Broken/Defective pool gates or fences
• Insufficient or defective lighting
• Cloudy or murky water

After a swimming accident:

• Call 911 and seek medical treatment immediately
• Get the names of any lifeguard, pool supervisor or witness
• For a non-fatal drowning, monitor for signs of memory loss or head injury
• Determine your plan of action

As tragic as these events are, they happen. The aftermath can be overwhelming and complicated, we can help.

The Kurt Thompson Law Group will protect your rights and make sure you know all your options. Our attorneys are available 24/7 including weekends in order to be there when you need us. Contact us today at 1-888-487-8971.