Why Childhood Drowning is Still a Major Issue in Texas

Why Childhood Drowning is Still a Major Issue in Texas Pools can be a blast — especially in the midst of Texas summer heat. Naturally, most children are attracted to water. It’s movement, texture, and depth captivates most children’s attention, being that sensory plays a huge role in their development. But before you and your little one head to the pool to cool down this summer, it is important to be aware of the dangers that often go overlooked. Last year, the top five states for the highest number of child drowning fatalities in pools were:

• Texas (34)
• Florida (23)
• California (19)
• Ohio (14)
• Arizona (13)

These alarming findings show that Texas still has work to do to keep kids safe from drowning in pools. In order to prevent your child from drowning, it is important to be aware of precautions you can take around the pool this summer. Tips to prevent your child from drowning:

1. Keep life jackets and emergency equipment handy: Putting your child in a life jacket or vest is a great extra measure you can take to protect your child. Note that air-filled swimming aids are not a substitute for life jackets. Additionally, having emergency equipment, like a life ring or a reaching pole nearby, can be helpful if a drowning incident occurs.
2. Never take your attention away from children while they are in or around the pool: The pool is a place to unwind for many, including adults. You may be tempted to have a drink or scroll through your phone while your children play in the pool. But having a drink or being distracted on your phone can impair you from keeping an eye on pool safety. When supervising children at the pool, save your screen time, drinks, and other distracting activities for after the pool.
3. Beware of drains: Drains happen to catch onto things. Hair, swimsuits, and even body parts can get caught in pool drains, risking entrapment. Children who escape from faulty drains may suffer from amputation or disembowelment.
4. Teach your child how to swim beforehand: Many children can't swim well enough to escape drowning. Perhaps one of the most important precautionary measures you can take before going to the pool this summer is teaching your child how to swim. Although this is a great step to take, this does not prevent drowning and is by no means a substitute for adult supervision. Even the best swimmers still need supervision near the pool.
5. Learn CPR: As a parent or caretaker, CPR is an important skill to learn and may even save your child’s life. You can find more information on how to become CPR certified in your area on the Red Cross website.

Wyatt Law Firm: Seeking justice for drowning victims  If your child has been a victim of a drowning incident, you should strive for the best legal representation available. Most who experience this traumatic event turn to an attorney for help. If your child has experienced a drowning incident at the pool, you need an attorney that is caring enough to understand your situation, yet aggressive enough to seek justice for your child. If your case involves the following, we may be able to help:

• Near drowning
• Apartment pool drowning
• Water park drowning
• Hotel drowning
• Pool injuries

We seek justice for people throughout the state of Texas — including the cities of San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Laredo, and Corpus Christi. With over 30 years of representing Texas, we have the experience required to fight for your case. Give us a call today at (210) 340-5550 to get a free consultation and learn more about our services. There is absolutely no legal fee from us unless we win your claim.

Wyatt Law Firm: A passion for protecting Texas youth