Consumer Product Safety Commission Releases New Statistics on Drowning
The summer months have hardly begun but the statistics related to drowning and near-drowning incidents released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are staggering. In the first five months of 2011, there have already been 55 drowning and 63 near-drowning incidents across 29 U.S. states and territories. Even more disturbing is the news that in each year from 2006-2008, there were an estimated average of 383 pool and spa-related drownings for children younger than 15, 76 percent of which were children under the age of five. CPSC Chairman Inez M. Tenenbaum and U.S. Olympic swimmer Janet Evans held a press conference to remind parents and children to be careful in and around pools and spas this swimming season. Chairman Tenenbaum reminds the public that “the number of drownings and near-drownings involving children under five [is] still a serious public health issue”.
Recently, the CPSC announced a recall of roughly 1 million pool and in-ground spa drain covers that pose an entrapment risk. These drain covers were not rated to accommodate the flow of water through the cover, causing too much suction and creating a situation where swimmers, especially young children who are not strong swimmers, may become stuck and be at risk of drowning. While no drownings or injuries have been reported in connection with the recalled pool drain covers, it serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance in and around pools and spas.
A pool or spa-related accident is a traumatic incident for all involved. If you or a loved one has been involved in such an incident, the owner or manager of the pool may be legally responsible. Call the New York drowning accident attorneys at Wingate, Rusotti and Shapiro at 212-222-4336 for a free consultation.
