Pennsylvania Swimming Pool Accident Lawyer Salutes CPSC Campaign to Improve Swimming Pool Safety and Offers the Following Safety Tips To Protect Children
In late June, I had the opportunity to speak with Representatives of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission with regard to their campaign to attempt to reduce pool and spa drownings. As a Pennsylvania swimming pool and water accident lawyer, I am all too familiar with the tragic consequences of drowning and other water-related injuries that are often so preventable. As temperatures rise in the Pennsylvania area and around the United States, millions of Americans will flock to swimming pools. It is important to take various protective water safety tips to save the lives of children. Believe it or not, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under 5.
The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act is Federal legislation signed into law in 2007 mandating new legal requirements for public pool and spa safety including a public education program designed to increase public awareness, promote industry compliance, and improve safety at pools and spas. Unfortunately, my experience as an experienced Pennsylvania accident and swimming pool lawyer has been that many pool owners and operators in a tough economy have not complied with the mandates of these new laws. The most important steps for any parent to take is to constantly be on the lookout for children in and around a pool area.
–Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when they are in or near a pool or spa.
–Teach children basic water safety tips.
–Avoid entrapment by keeping children away from all pool drains, pipes, and other openings.
–Have a phone close by at all times when you or your family are using a pool or spa.
–If a child is missing, look for them in a pool or spa first.
–Share safety instructions with all family, friends, and neighbors.
–Learn how to swim and teach your children how to swim.
–Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults and update regularly.
–Understand the basics of lifesaving so that you can assist in a pool emergency.
–Install a 4 foot fence around the perimeter of the pool and spa and use self closing and self latching gates.
–If your house serves as a 4th side of a fence around a pool, install a pool alarm and use it all the time.
–Make sure your pool or any spa used has complying drain covers and ask if you don=t know.
–Have lifesaving equipment such as life rings or floats available for easy use.
For more information visit the following website www.poolsafety.gov or view YouTube at www.youtube.com/poolsafety.
The Pennsylvania swimming pool and water accident safety lawyers of Reiff and Bily are committed to preventing drownings, catastrophic accidents, and brain trauma which result from negligent pool safety. The swimming season has kicked off and we want parents and children to stay safe.
