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CPSC Releases Summer Drowning Accident Data

At least 172 children died across the United States in drowning accidents between the Memorial Day holiday 2010 and the Labor Day weekend.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission has released its annual summer drowning accident data, and California pool accident lawyers have been dismayed to find that the year 2010 has been no different from years past.  Every year, an average of 200 children are killed in pool-related accidents and other drowning deaths.

Besides the 172 children who drowned in the US this summer, there have also been at least 180 nonfatal incidents that involved children who almost drowned in pools and spas.  Both the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Home Safety Council are calling for greater vigilance when children are around water bodies.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, California had the most number of child drownings for the summer with 27 drownings and 15 and nonfatal incidents.  Florida was next with 14 drownings and 19 nonfatal incidents.  Third place went to Texas with 12 drownings and 17 nonfatal incidents.  Arizona had nine drownings and 21 nonfatal incidents, while Ohio had 10 drownings and 11 nonfatal incidents.

Overall, there were more than 350 child drownings and nonfatal incidents between the Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends.  The Consumer Product Safety Commission chairperson Inez Tenenbaum is calling on both parents and caregivers to exercise extra vigilance when their children are around above or in-ground pools and spas.

This year, there have been more than 350 families that have been devastated or terrified by a drowning or nonfatal incident in the family.  We need to reduce those numbers dramatically, and for that, parents and caregivers must exercise greater caution when their children are around a pool.

Summer tends to be peak season for drowning deaths among children.  According to figures by the Consumer Safety Commission, between 2005 and 2007, there were an average of 53 drowning deaths in June, 61 in July and 42 in the month of August.  These figures are true for children aged below four years of age.  This is the most high-risk group for drowning accidents, and it’s especially important that parents be extra vigilant when there are children of this age near the water.  As the child’s age increases, the risk of being involved in a drowning accident decreases.  When it comes to children under 14, there was an average of 77 deaths in June, 79 deaths in July and 59 deaths in August.  Compare that to the average fatality toll of 26 between April 2005 and April 2007.

The high risk of drownings among children below the age of four is part of the reason why the American Academy of Pediatrics earlier this year recommended that children of this age be given swimming lessons to reduce their risks of drowning-related accidents.  That doesn’t mean that swimming lessons that alone will guarantee the safety of these kids.  Rather, a combination of parental vigilance and supervision and swimming lessons can significantly reduce these risks.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of swimming pool accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.

The Reeves Law Group is not representing any party in the matters discussed in this posting.

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