Swimming Accident Prevention

Nothing feels better on a hot summer day than taking a dip in the pool. While swimming is a fun and healthy physical activity, it can also be dangerous. It only takes a couple of inches of water for a small child or infant to drown. Water can be equally dangerous for adults, so it’s important that you take precautions when visiting the pool, lake, river or ocean this summer. Here are some safety tips to help prevent swimming accidents:

• Always supervise small children and infants near water, even if the child knows how to swim.
• Always have an adult supervise underage children and never let an older child do so.
• In addition to adult supervision, it’s advised to swim in areas where a lifeguard is present, but remember that a lifeguard does not take the place of adult supervision.
• Always swim with a buddy, especially when in natural waters.
• Always wear a coast guard-approved life jacket when boating.
• Enroll your children in swimming lessons. Trained swimmers are less likely to be involved in a swimming-related accident.
• Always secure your pool to prevent accidents. Add surface alarms to your pool, locking gates and fences around your pool to prevent your children or neighborhood children from accessing your pool.
• Always check the water first, when a child is missing near a pool or natural body of water. Seconds count.
• Be sure to wear sunscreen when in the sun. Follow the instructions on the sunscreen and reapply generously throughout the day.
• Do not swim during thunderstorms. If you see lightning or hear thunder, you should immediately get out of the water.
• Be aware of ocean and river currents, and rip tides, and do not swim in these dangerous conditions.
• Do not swim in water where you cannot see or feel the bottom. Stay in shallow water with good visibility.
• Avoid night swimming or in areas where there is poor lighting.
• Stay out of the water if you are sleepy, overheated, cold or intoxicated. All of these conditions may impair your judgment and lead to accidents.
• Enroll in water safety training, swimming lessons, and first aid classes at your local Red Cross, community college or recreation center. 

Injured in a Swimming Accident?

Swimming accidents cannot always be avoided, but with preparation and vigilance, you can reduce your risks of an accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a boating or swimming accident, contact the attorneys at Saladino & Schaaf for a free consultation, or give us a call at 270-444-0406. We have been helping accident victims receive the compensation they deserve since 1984.