Factors Leading to Swimming Pool Accidents
There are many situations that can lead to serious injury in and around a swimming pool:- Falls from slides or diving boards can result in broken bones or head injuries
- Many injuries result from slips and falls on wet decks or other surfaces
- Serious injuries often occur when people dive in shallow water or off diving boards without adequate supervision
- People have been seriously injured or killed by malfunctioning drains or drain covers
- Small children may drown by wandering into a pool that has inadequate barriers or fencing
- People may contract diseases swimming in pools that have not been properly treated with chemicals
Minimizing the Risk of Swimming Pool Accidents
There are steps that owners and swimmers can take to reduce the likelihood of injury:- Parents should provide proper supervision at all times, and should make certain that children have basic water skills and safety equipment before going in the pool. Parents should also discourage horseplay or other dangerous actions.
- Owners should use non-slip materials on decks, diving boards and ladders
- The pool should always have proper fencing and barriers, as well as guard rails, flotation devices and ladders in the pool
- The pool should be chemically tested on a regular basis
- All electrical devices should be kept out of the pool area