It’s summer time, and that means the temperatures are climbing and before long you’ll be looking for ways to beat the heat. While air conditioning is one thing, nothing beats a dip in your local pool when it comes to having fun while staying refreshed. However, before you and your loved ones dive in this summer, it’s important to take a few extra minutes to learn more about the risks swimming pools can carry so that you’re aware and take extra steps to avoid them and stay safe.
Hazardous Pool Conditions
If you’re heading to a public pool, such as one located in your neighborhood or at a community park, you may not be headed to as family-friendly or safe of a facility as you might think. The CDC conducted a survey of more than 50,000 swimming pool facilities and found that 80 percent of them were out of compliance with at least one crucial health or safety regulation. Perhaps even more shocking, one out of every eight facilities inspected had to be closed temporarily because of the results of that study.
There are lots of different ways a pool can potentially cause an injury. Things that can contribute to drowning are the most obvious and plentiful hazards. Safety equipment such as life preservers or lifejackets need to be in good working order, free from damage, and easily accessible at a moment’s notice. Many of these facilities had outdated lifesaving devices.
Some pools fail to indicate the pool depth at certain points, and that’s potentially serious for any guests or visitors who wish to dive in. Diving into the shallow end can result in serious injuries to the head and neck, possibly resulting in serious spinal cord problems, or even knocking the victim unconscious. This is a particularly large issue with home pools, where indicating depth isn’t always required.
Finally, there’s the issue of the pool itself. A surprising number of pools still don’t have approved covers over their filters and drains. A pool filter or drain can suck in hair and clothing, trapping someone underwater. If you have a pool, make sure your drains have approved covers affixed to them.
Then there’s the issue of the water that’s in the pool. Despite the fact that water should be treated with chemicals that are designed to disinfect the water and make it safe for swimming, a surprising number of pools have inadequate chlorine levels and don’t test often enough. These pools can carry germs, viruses, and bacteria, all of which could cause you to become seriously sick.
If you or a loved one is injured or becomes ill because of a swimming pool this summer, let a Bowling Green injury attorney help you hold the pool operator responsible. Call the Law Office of Pamela C. Bratcher today at 270-783-8311 for a case evaluation.