Summer is here. Perhaps the most popular summer activity in the Carolinas is swimming. Jumping into the water is the perfect way to escape the sweltering summer temperatures. But before you dive into the pool or take a dip in the ocean, it’s important to remember that water play has dangers, too.
About 10 people die from drowning every day, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Drowning is also the leading cause of death in children under four, and the numbers always spike in the summer. Other causes of water-related injury come from slips and falls, boating accidents, chlorine burns, pool accidents, and sunburn and sun poisoning. It’s important to be aware of these hazards and take active steps to prevent them.
The Rock Hill personal injury attorneys at Stewart Law Offices care about your health and well-being. As you usher in summer, keep in mind the following water safety tips.
South Carolina Drowning Statistics
Recent CDC data reveals troubling trends in drowning deaths. Over 4,500 people die from drowning each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—an increase of approximately 500 drowning deaths per year compared to 2019. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4, and among children in this age group, drownings increased by 28% in 2022 compared to 2019.
In South Carolina, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1 to 4, and the state ranked ninth in the nation for fatal, unintentional drownings in 2019.
According to South Carolina Department of Public Health ,The Pee Dee Region of South Carolina has the highest drowning rate in the state at 2.3 per 100,000 population.
Staying Safe in the Water
- Know your limits: Make sure that everyone in the family knows how to swim. According to the American Red Cross, swimmers should know how to enter the water, get a breath, float, change position, and be able to swim a distance to get out of the water safely. Swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% for children ages 1 to 4, according to research published in JAMA Pediatrics.
- Use water flotation devices: Coast Guard-approved life jackets, puddle jumpers, and other flotation devices should be worn whenever you are boating, canoeing or kayaking. Children should also be wearing approved gear while swimming and especially in oceans and rivers where currents are strong. Of all people who drowned while boating in 2022, 85% were not wearing a life jacket. Keep in mind that plastic pool “floaties” around kids’ arms are not the same thing as approved water safety devices. Make sure they fit according to the individual’s size and weight requirements.
- Swim and boat sober: Watch what you drink while you’re on the water. The sun and heat can cause dehydration and intensify the effects of alcohol. Intoxication can lead to swimming accidents, but it could also cause a deadly boat crash if you’re driving drunk.
- Walk: Whether you’re at the pool or the water park, it’s important to walk on wet surfaces. A slip and fall on wet pavement can lead to head injuries, broken bones, and other injuries.
- Check that pool drains are VGB-compliant: The suction of a pool drain is powerful. Swimming has turned tragic for families whose children were trapped by noncompliant or unsecured drain covers. Drain covers in public pools should have been swapped for compliant ones in 2008. However, this is something that may have been overlooked in residential pools but is required for all public facilities nationwide.
- Wear sunscreen: We’ve all had at least a mild sunburn in our lifetimes. But long-term sun exposure is associated with over 80 percent of skin cancers. Excessive time in the sun can also cause sun poisoning, which can result in fever, vomiting, and purpling of the skin.
- Watch out for chlorine burns: Chlorine is a disinfectant used in many swimming pools. While it’s mostly used safely with no harm done, there are reports of people suffering from respiratory and other difficulties related to chlorine burns every year.
Hurt? Call a Personal Injury Lawyer Today
At Stewart Law Offices, we wish you a happy and health summer. However, if you harmed in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. To learn more, contact a personal injury lawyer at one of our offices today. With locations throughout South Carolina and an office in Charlotte, North Carolina, our lawyers can meet with you wherever is most convenient.
Call or contact us today to get started.