California Injury Blog
A 2-year-old girl was hospitalized after a swimming pool accident in Valencia on July 1, 2010, The Signal reports. Los Angeles County fire officials say the accident occurred in the backyard pool of a home near Mill Valley Road. The toddler was found facedown in the pool. When emergency personnel arrived, the parents were performing CPR and the girl was resuscitated. It is not clear how this accident occurred. The girl was airlifted to an area hospital for treatment.
My heart goes out to the parents of this little girl who nearly drowned. I’m relieved to hear that she regained consciousness. I wish this child the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. She will be in my prayers.
Near-Drowning Incidents
Los Angeles County has more than 200 near-drowning incidents a year. And Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties together account for half of all near-drowning incidents in California. Although it is extremely fortunate that this child did not drown, near-drowning incidents are serious because in these cases, oxygen supply to the brain is cut off, which can leave a victim with lifelong brain injuries. Medical expenses in a near-drowning incident could easily run into millions of dollars.
Liability in Swimming Pool Accidents
Almost every summer, our firm represents a family whose loved one drowned or almost drowned because of the negligence of a homeowner. Please remember that if a child drowns or almost drowns in your backyard pool or on your watch, you could be held liable for the accident, injuries or wrongful death.
Swimming pools are a great resource and of course, a lot of fun in the summer. But they can also be a liability. If a child drowns in your backyard pool or suffers serious injuries under your watch, you could be held financially responsible. Swimming pools are also the biggest killers of children under five years of age. It takes barely seconds for a child to slip under water and drown.
The key to preventing these tragedies is to have layers of protection. This includes placing barriers around your pool to prevent access, using pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency. In this particular case, the child’s parents knew how to administer CPR, which may have saved their child’s life.
What precautions do you take when you host a pool party or have children over to your house to swim? We would like to hear your comments and suggestions.
The Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.