The Consumer Product Safety Commission Recognizes an Increase in Child Fatalities Due to Drowning
by Jeffrey J. Kroll
As the summer swim season is in full swing, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released its annual drowning and submersion report. Sadly, the report showed that fatal drownings for children under 15 have increased by 12 percent compared to last year.
The CPSC urges families with young children and those historically excluded communities to prioritize water safety as they spend more time in and around pools. Parents, caregivers, relatives, and friends can follow some simple steps around the pool and other water-related areas to keep children safer.
For example:
- Never leave a child unattended in or near water.
- Always designate an adult as a “Water Watcher.” In other words, this person should not be reading, texting, using a phone, or otherwise distracted. Depending on the age of a child, this vigilance also includes bathtubs, decorative ponds, and fountains.
- If you own a pool or spa, ensure layers of protection are properly installed, including barriers or self-latching devices and fence gates to prevent an unsupervised child from accessing the water. In fact, use door alarms, pull covers, and other safety-related devices.
- Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults. It is not difficult to find online CPR training in your community.
- Teach your children how to properly swim.
- Keep children away from pool drains, pipes, and other openings to avoid entrapments. · Ensure any pool has drain covering covers that comply with Federal Safety Standards.
If a loved one has fatally died as a result of a drowning circumstance, contact the expert water safety lawyers at Kaveny + Kroll. Please call (312) 761-5585 for a free consultation.