MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota. As a parent, your number one priority is making sure your child is safe in any situation. As you can see from this blog post, this includes ensuring your pediatrician is available 24/7, that you ensure you’re there for them when they’re sick, you teach them things like stranger danger, and teach them how to swim. As temperatures warm, many families will make their way to the beach or pool. However, the beach, pool, and lake each bring their own safety risks for children and families. Are your kids water safe?
According to the American Red Cross, the best thing you can do to keep your children safe in the water this year is to enroll your kids in age-appropriate swim classes. Knowing how to swim and how to tread water can make a big difference in children’s water safety. However, according to the New York Times, swim lessons alone are not sufficient. Even children who know how to swim can be at risk of drowning in rough water or when doing certain water sports. Children who are less capable swimmers should always be watched and it shouldn’t be assumed that flotation devices will keep kids safe.
Children should never swim alone. In fact, the Red Cross notes that adults shouldn’t swim alone either. Older kids can swim with a buddy system and younger children should always be monitored by an adult who knows how to swim.
One of the risks of swim lessons is that children and even the children’s parents might become overconfident in their children’s abilities.
Every day, approximately 10 people die due to drowning. Unfortunately, when it comes to swimming and water confidence, people tend to overestimate their abilities. Swim lessons in controlled scenarios also won’t necessarily prepare you for other scenarios, such as swimming in a beach with surf or swimming in a river with a current. Cold water can also impact a person’s abilities.
If you’ve recently had a pool builder install a pool on your property, it’s important that you learn all the safety measures you must take. From barriers to bacteria, there are some basics you need to know about. When it comes to pool safety, it is important to have proper barriers and fences in place to keep children safe. For example, the pool you are using should have regular pool barrier safety inspections that are known to customers so you know that you and your children are safe. Adults cannot assume that children won’t venture close to the water. Pools should have proper child safety locks and gates.
Children aren’t the only ones at risk. When it comes to boating and swimming, alcohol and the water don’t mix. Many accidents on the water involve a mix of drinking and lack of caution or training. If you plan to go boating, make sure that your skills are up to date with a proper boat safety course
Some other precautions the Red Cross recommends, includes choosing to swim only in areas watched by life guards, wearing life jackets when out on the boat, and setting family rules for swimming and water activities to keep everyone safe.
If you or a loved one was hurt while swimming or boating, the law offers certain protections for victims and families. For example, homeowners are required to fence their pools to prevent childhood injuries and drowning. Property owners are required to put up signs warning about possible hazards. And where lifeguards are present, these personnel should be properly trained to handle emergency situations. The Law Office of Martin T. Montilino is a personal injury lawyer in Minneapolis, Minnesota who works closely with victims and families who have been hurt due to the neglect or negligence of another person or party. Our firm may be able to help you seek damages for your losses. Visit us at https://martinmontilino.com/ to learn more.
THE LAW OFFICE OF MARTIN T. MONTILINO, LLC
3109 Hennepin Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 236-1320