Our Houston swimming pool accident lawyers noticed a recent article by Robert Arnold for kprc.com, which pointed out that metro Houston leads our state in tragic drowning deaths. The article (click2houston.com, 6/26/2012) mentioned that this year alone has already seen 16 child drowning deaths in Texas, 8 in Houston alone, and most of the summer swimming season still stretches out before us. Last year saw 18 such deaths in the greater Houston area, more than anywhere else in the state.
We can add drowning dangers to the list of other deadly dangers, like street racing and drunken driving, in which Houston holds top ranking in the state. Houston’s top ranking might be due at least in part to its status as the most populous area in the state. But population numbers alone don’t seem to account for our top spots in deadly accidents.
Swimming instructors and many parents recommend teaching your child to swim at an early age as one way to help minimize the dangers of child drowning deaths. Learning about water safety and how to cope with water depth and current can help reduce a child’s fear of the water. Our Houston swimming pool accident lawyers realize that panic is the pitiless enemy of a swimmer in trouble.
Our Houston swimming pool accident lawyers caution that even the most competent swimmer can experience deadly dangers from hazards like unexpected obstacles in the water, collisions with other swimmers or water craft, water park equipment or safety defects, and improperly covered pool drains.
Children should always swim with a buddy and under proper adult supervision. In the event that a child gets into trouble in the water, a quick response can help save that child’s life and avoid adding another statistic to the Houston area’s saddening list of child drowning deaths. Read the linked article about a dangerous swimming accident where a child’s buddy and the quick response of supervising adults saved a boy’s life after he had lost consciousness under water.