The warm weather in Florida makes it possible for residents of Parrish, Manatee County and other areas to enjoy a mild backyard environment with no danger of snow, ice, or chills. As a result, it’s not unusual for many residents to invest in a swimming pool in the backyard. After all, it doesn’t have to be emptied in anticipation of winter, and the mild Florida weather means it can be used all year round.
However, having a swimming pool, while opening up new possibilities for home recreation, also means more responsibilities. A swimming pool creates new possibilities for injuries that both homeowners and visitors should be aware of. Here are some of the most common injuries people experience in swimming pools.
The Slip & Fall
The slip and fall is probably the most common swimming pool injury, which has many potential causes and just as many possibilities for injury. A slippery surface, such as wet tile, can cause improper placement of the foot to cause a slip. Depending on the point of impact, the fall itself can range anywhere from mildly painful and embarrassing to causing broken bones, traumatic brain injury, and even death.
This becomes an even bigger problem when it involves children or the elderly. These age groups are less durable than adults in their prime, making the potential for injury even more serious.
Possible consequences of a slip and fall include:
• Cuts and bruises
• Soft tissue injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injury
• Breaks or sprains
Entrapment
This type of accident occurs when a swimmer becomes trapped. The entrapment can arise from powerful filters that can suck the fabric of swimsuits and skin. In other instances, particularly with children, entrapment happens when someone is stuck under an object, such as a pool toy or float, and can’t free themselves of it, remaining under the water.
Depending on the type of entrapment, the injuries can range from soft tissue damage to the muscles due to suction to disembowelment. Disembowelment may occur if a person, often a child, gets attached to the drain, and organs, like the intestine, are literally sucked out through body cavities. The other injury associated with entrapment is one that also happens all on its own and is the injury most parents fear.
Drowning
The CDC reports that over 8000 children drown in swimming pools every year, and of those, nearly half are fatal. That means, on average, 22 children drown in swimming pools every day in the United States, some of which are in places like Parrish. Drowning can happen for any number of reasons, though the most common cause is neglect. Adults leave children unable to swim unsupervised by or in a swimming pool, and when they find themselves in the middle of the pool, unable to get out, there is no one there to help them.
Another common reason is inattentive supervision. Even when adults are present, due to misinformation from media sources like film and television, many people expect drowning to be dramatic, with loud splashing and someone calling for help. In reality, drowning occurs largely underwater, with the victim swallowing too much water to shout for help. In some ways, a child drowning in a pool can, to the inattentive eye, resemble a child swimming underwater.
Swimming pools in Parrish can provide years of positive memories for families and friends, but only if their risks are acknowledged and respected. Neglecting the threats a swimming pool can pose to people is against the law. If you’ve been injured, or have a loved one that suffered a Parrish pool injury due to the owner’s negligence, talk to an experienced swimming pool accident attorney about making sure those responsible are legally held to account.