A 3-year-old boy was killed in an Orange County swimming pool accident after he drowned in the backyard pool of an Anaheim home the afternoon of December 23, 2014.
According to a news report in the Orange County Register, the incident occurred at a home in the 2200 block of West Judith Lane.
Officials say a family from Santa Ana was visiting relatives who live in the Anaheim home and frantically searched for the boy in the house when they realized
he was missing. Eventually, the child was located in the pool. It is now known how the boy got out of the house or whether the pool was gated.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members of this young victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Orange County Drowning Deaths
So far this year, Orange County officials have responded to 85 drowning-related calls of which 41 were fatal. That number has increased from 73 drowning calls last year of which 37 were deadly, which lower compared to 2012.
That year had a record high of 93 drowning calls, 53 of them deadly.
Officials say drowning deaths are year-round in Orange County because of the area’s abundance of pools and beaches and good weather.
Preventing Tragedies
Most young children are naturally drawn to water. Even children who know how to swim are at risk for drowning.
Most drowning and near-drowning incidents in Orange County occur in backyard pools and spas. Multiple layers of protection can help water safety and prevent drowning in a residential pool or spa.
If you have a pool or spa in your home, please consider these safety tips:
• Make sure your pool is fenced. Surround your pool with a fence that’s at least 4 feet tall. Slatted fences should not have gaps wider than 4 inches so kids cannot squeeze though. Avoid chain-link fences that can be easy for children to climb.
• Protect any doors leading to the backyard or the pool with alarms. Add an underwater pool alarm that sounds when something hits the water and make sure you can hear the alarm inside the house.
• Use a rigid, motorized safety cover to block access to the pool when it’s not in use.
• Do not leave pool toys in the water. This might attract children to the pool.
• Always supervise children near a pool or a hot tub. When you’re visiting friends or during social gatherings, do not get distracted by conversations.
• Keep emergency equipment such as safety ring with a rope handy. Always have a phone in the pool area.
If your child has been injured in a swimming pool accident, please contact an experienced Orange County personal injury lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.