Chicago Pool Injury Attorney - Article

Pool and Water Safety

Many people assume that, because lightning does seem to be near them, they are safe in the pool. Unfortunately, lightning is known to have the ability to strike things up to 10 miles away from its cloud source. This makes it an exceptionally dangerous piece of nature.

When people are around water, particularly pools, they are as unsafe as ever. The issue typically is not the small area of the pool itself, but rather all of the connections with the pool at the facility that are also connected to the pool. The biggest mistake people make is remaining in the pool area when lightning is nearby. Leaving the water is not the solution, but the beginning.

The Real Danger of Lightning

A flash of lightning can hit a power pole, a phone pole, or anything outside the structure of the pool itself. Because there are so many wires and pipes connected to the pool, the area that can be affected by a lightning strike is quite large. A cloud-to-ground flash of lightning that hits a part of a pool structure or anything touching a pool can then travel easily through any standing water, plumbing, wiring, fences, and phones to affect many, most, or all of the people within the pool area.

Indoor pools are at risk as well. The same items that make an outdoor pool area dangerous make an indoor pool dangerous. There have not been any deaths recorded in indoor pools relating to lightning, but there have been numerous examples of people inside houses and other structures feeling the effects of lightning even though they’re inside. Isn’t it better to be safe and get out of the pool rather than take the chance of being the first?

Keeping Yourself Safe

As a general rule for lightning safety, when you see a flash of lightning, count the seconds to the bang that follows. Every five seconds is the equivalent of 1 mile of distance between a person and the lightning. The 30/30 rule comes into play. If there are 30 or less seconds between the flash and the bang, find shelter immediately, as you are in range of the lightning. The second 30 means you should wait 30 minutes from the last sound of thunder to establish the “all clear.”

Although adults may be more responsible for their own safety, younger children may not be so cautious. It is the duty of parents, teachers, and caretakers to get children out of the pool if a lightning hazard is present. If you or your loved ones have been injured near or in a swimming pool, contact the Chicago pool injury attorneys of Friedman & Bonebrake at 312-466-8200 to discuss your case and to determine your legal options.