A 2-year-old boy nearly drowned after he fell into a backyard swimming pool in Rialto the afternoon of February 27, 2009, the San Bernardino Sun reports in this article. The toddler’s family members told Rialto fire officials that the toddler fell into the pool in the 1900 block of North Joyce Avenue while playing with another child. The other child then got a sibling to pull the toddler out of the swimming pool. An adult started doing CPR on the child. The children apparently got to the pool area through a sliding door.
When paramedics arrived on the scene, the toddler had a pulse, but wasn’t breathing. Thankfully, he started recovering on the way to the hospital. Fire officials told the newspaper that people should be watchful especially in California where good weather keeps families using their pools through the year. San Bernardino swimming pool accidents do not happen only in the summer, especially in California. Swimming pool safety cannot be overemphasized in Southern California.
It is extremely fortunate that this little boy survived this swimming pool accident. Young children, if they do not drown, can be left with catastrophic injuries to the brain after a near-drowning because very often this cuts off oxygen supply to the brain. The cost of treating these brain injuries can be extremely high and could run into millions of dollars. I hope this child in Rialto wasn’t seriously injured and I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery.
Southern California has the highest number of swimming pool accidents in California. Los Angeles County has more than 200 near-drowning incidents on an average each year. Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties account for half of all near-drowning incidents in California. Almost every summer, our firm represents a family whose loved one drowned or almost drowned because of the negligence of a homeowner. It could happen any time and always quietly, without warning – during a pool party or a get together among family or friends.
In this case, it is not clear where the accident occurred. It is not clear whether the toddler was in his backyard or a friend’s backyard. If a child is placed in the care of a friend, an acquaintance or a babysitter and is involved in a swimming pool accident on their watch, then that person could be held responsible for the injuries caused. Anyone who believes their child was injured in a California swimming pool accident would be well-advised to contact a reputed California swimming pool accident attorney, who can give them the right advice and information about how to pursue their legal rights.