Chicago Pool Injury Lawyer - Article

Swimming Pool Safety

Spending a day at a swimming pool can be a delightful summer activity for the entire family. This fun, however, must be balanced with a reasonable sense of caution and education about proper behavior around water. The sad truth is, many people do not realize how dangerous swimming can really be, especially for small children. Every year 2,000 children under the age of five are taken to emergency rooms for submersion injuries.

Staying Safe

If you know any children who enjoy spending time in water, make sure to follow these guidelines whenever they are near water.

• Keep a close eye on children around water. In 69% of pool-related accidents involving small children, the parents did not realize the child was in or even near the pool. At social gatherings, it is recommended that one or more adults be selected as designated “kid watchers.”
• If a child is missing, check the pool first. Every second counts when a person is being deprived of oxygen.
• Put up barriers around any bodies of water. Walls and fences are recommended to keep neighborhood children out of your property. Coverings can protect children who live on property with pools, and installing an alarm to ding whenever the door is opened helps parents keep track of their children.
• Do not assume that a child is safe just because they can swim. Small children can be injured very easily, even if they have been taught to swim. Keep a close eye on every child in the water.

Who is Responsible?

Guardians are generally the first people responsible for their children. However, sometimes accidents occur because of another person’s negligence while entertaining the family. If you or your child has been injured on another person’s property, that person could be liable if they failed to maintain their property or warn you about certain dangers.

This area of law is known as “premises liability.” Some states have an addition to this principle known as a general nuisance law. According to this law, anyone whose property contains something that could be attractive yet dangerous to small children is legally responsible for it. For example, a person who fails to sufficiently protect any bodies of water on their property is legally responsible for any children who trespass and get hurt in that water.

Illinois does not have an attractive nuisance law, but the law does expect all property owners to provide reasonably safe grounds for both commercial and social guests.

For more information about premises liability law, contact Chicago pool injury lawyers Friedman & Bonebrake.