California Injury Blog
A 4-year-old boy died in a swimming pool accident after he drowned in a spa pool located in the backyard of a home.
According to a KCAL9 news report, the incident occurred in the 2600 block of Mercedes Drive. The boy was trapped in the swimming pool when one of his hands got caught in a suction drain.
Fire officials said the boy’s great-grandparents were watching him and tried to rescue the child. It is not clear how long the boy was underwater.
Firefighters performed CPR on the boy and took him to the hospital where he later died.
Officials say this is a tragic accident that could have been completely avoided.
Upon investigation, officials found that
the drain cover was off. They are trying to figure out if the child uncovered it himself or it came off. After they took the boy away, they found the drain cover at the bottom of the pool.
This is the fourth child drowning in San Bernardino so far this year. Officials have said the great-grandparents will not be charged in connection with this incident.
Child Drowning Incidents
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates nationwide.
In 2009, among children in that age group who died from an unintentional injury, more than 30 percent died from drowning.
Also, among children 1 to 4, most drowning incidents occur in home swimming pools.
Also, among children between the ages of 1 and 14, drowning remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death right after car accidents.
The Danger of Pool Drain Covers
Drain entrapments are frequently the result of a swimmer’s body, hair, limbs or clothing becoming entangled in a faulty or flat drain or grate.
The best way to prevent these types of tragedies is to install federally compliant drain covers.
Inspect your drain cover regularly to make sure it’s not broken and is not missing. The suction from an open or broken pool drain can be so strong that it can even be difficult for adults to overcome. Children, especially, can become trapped in the pool and drown.
With summer well underway in Southern California, it is important for all homeowners and property owners to check their pool drain covers and make sure they comply with the law.
If your child has been injured or has drowned in a pool with a broken drain cover, you may be eligible for compensation.
An experienced California swimming pool accident lawyer will be able to provide you with more information about pursuing your legal rights.