California Injury Blog
An alert bystander played a crucial role in preventing what could have ended up as a tragic swimming pool accident in Riverside County.
According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, firefighter-paramedics responded the evening of April 18, 2015 to a report of a near drowning in the 1200 block of Dodge City Place.
Witnesses said the bystander at the residence saw the girl
in the pool with a float and realizing she was in danger, immediately removed her. Fire officials observed that she was breathing and took her to an area hospital. No further information was available. The investigation is ongoing.
Children and Drowning
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger.
For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. More than 50 percent of drowning victims treated in emergency departments in the U.S. require hospitalization or transfer for further care.
These nonfatal injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities and permanent loss of basic functioning or vegetative state.
Taking Preventive Steps
Based on this news report, it is not quite clear what caused this near drowning incident. There are several unanswered questions here.
We don’t know if the child was being supervised by an adult or if there was a gathering where many people were present and no one noticed the child in distress.
Here are several steps all of us can take to prevent tragic swimming pool accidents:
• Always supervise children when they are in or around water. Supervisors of preschool age children should provide “touch supervision” or be close enough to physically reach the child at all times. Supervising adults should never be distracted by other activities, even if lifeguards are present, because drowning occurs quickly and quietly.
• Swimming lessons can help protect young children from drowning. You should supervise your young children even if they know how to swim.
• Do not use air-filled or foam toys such as “water wings” or “noodles” instead of life jackets. These toys are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
• Keep a phone and a first-aid kit near the pool. Learn CPR. It could save lives.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a swimming pool accident, please contact an experienced Riverside personal injury lawyer to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.