These Are the Most Common Injuries at Swimming Pools

Public swimming pools can offer relief from the heat and humidity of Louisiana summers, but swimming pools also come with some risks. Ten people drown each day in the United States. Drowning is the second leading cause of fatalities among children and the number one cause of unintentional death of children aged 1-4. Even non-fatal drowning can leave the victim with serious injuries such as internal organ damage or severe neurological damage. 

If you or a loved one have suffered a swimming pool accident resulting from someone else’s negligence, contact Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers immediately. Our law firm has successfully helped victims of swimming pool accidents recover compensation for their injuries.  

Although public swimming pools in Louisiana are not legally required to have a lifeguard on duty, general pool safety guidelines recommend at least one lifeguard per 25 swimmers. Unfortunately, even if the pool has lifeguards, injuries and drownings still occur. If you are injured at a public swimming pool, you may have a claim if someone’s negligence led to your injury. 

Common Types of Public Swimming Pool Injuries

In public pools, swimmers may be injured due to poor lighting, slippery decks, badly marked pools, poor water clarity, drain entrapment, diving injuries, overcrowding, and lack of supervision and safety equipment. 

• Poorly lit pools: A lack of adequate pool lighting can make it challenging for lifeguards to see a drowning victim, cause dive injuries, and hamper rescue attempts.

• Slippery decks: Slips and falls that result in broken bones, lacerations, or brain injury. Our slip and fall lawyers can help you determine whether you have a claim.

• Drain entrapment: Victims can get their hair, swimsuit, or limbs caught in an improperly covered drain, causing circulation entrapment that results in drowning. Even those who escape can suffer internal organ damage or amputation of fingers and toes. 

• Diving injuries: Diving into a too shallow pool can result in catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, which can be life-altering.

• Badly marked pools: Faded or peeling depth markers or a missing float rope allow weaker swimmers to swim or float into the deep end of the pool without realizing it.

• Poor water clarity: Improper chemical treatment makes the pool water murky, and children can easily be lost underwater. 

• Overcrowding: If capacity numbers aren’t enforced, identifying drowning victims can be challenging for lifeguards, and rescue attempts can be jeopardized. 

• Lack of supervision and safety equipment: All lifeguards should be fully trained and give their full attention to swimmers when on duty. They should also have safety equipment like ring buoys and life ropes readily available in an emergency. Their sole responsibility is swimmer surveillance, so public pool owners and managers must ensure that lifeguards are not distracted by electronics or overburdened with extra duties, such as housekeeping.

Public Pool Liability

Public swimming pools are mandated by state and federal regulations which cover pool capacity, safety equipment, and chemical consistency. Public pool owners owe swimmers the highest duty of care and are responsible for ensuring that the pool and any equipment, such as water slides and diving boards, are maintained.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Act is a law that sets the requirements for drains in all public swimming pools, ensuring that they are functional and covered with the correct safety devices to prevent entrapment. Public pool owners must also warn of dangers such as water that is too shallow for diving or potentially slippery surfaces.

The public pool owner is also liable if they have not provided adequate supervision for swimmers. Lifeguards require extensive training, including swimming proficiency skills, first aid, and resuscitation techniques, before receiving their qualification. If the pool owner knowingly hires an unqualified lifeguard, they may be held liable if an accident occurs.

Contact Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation

As swimming pool accident attorneys that take on difficult cases, we know the devastating consequences of preventable pool injuries. When swimming pool injuries could have been prevented, the victim has the right to hold the at-fault party accountable.

Public swimming pool cases in Louisiana often require a Louisiana premises liability lawyerto prove that the property owners failed to uphold their legal duty to take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of their guests. 

When you depend on maximum compensation following a swimming pool accident, you need a law firm that understands the legal elements and will fight to get you the justice you deserve. If you have a pool accident or premises liability case you want to discuss, call our law firm to arrange your confidential, free consultation. 

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