Swimming pool tragedies can happen to any family. This unfortunate truth was once again demonstrated when the 3-year-old nephew of Sterling “Steelo” Brim, the star of the MTV show Ridiculousness, drowned in the actor’s swimming pool in his North Hollywood home.
The immediate family of the child are from Chicago and was visiting Brim in his home. According to various news reports, the toddler wandered alone in the backyard where the pool’s located, during the morning of June 23, 2017 and the adults were unaware of the child’s movements. The child fell into the pool, and it’s still unclear as to how long he was in the water. Paramedics summoned to the star’s home rushed the baby to the nearest hospital, but it was too late. Officials have determined that the baby’s death was due to accidental drowning. If you ever have an issue with an accidental drowning please call our San Diego pool drowning and injury lawyers today.
Accidental Drowning Statistics
This type of accidental drowning is sadly not an isolated incident. The US CDC reports that in 10 years from 2005 to 2014, there were 3,536 accidental non-boating drowning incidents in the US each year. That’s about 10 accidents each day. Victims of such incidents who were only 14 years old or younger accounted for 20% of those deaths.
In addition, for each child who dies in such accidents, 5 more children are treated for near-drowning accidents. Some of these cases have resulted in brain damage so severe that the children end up with learning disabilities, memory issues, and even a permanent loss of basic functioning. Half of these young victims of near drowning require further hospitalization and care after being treated in the emergency room.
Preventive Measures
Every homeowner must take care that swimming pools in homes are secured, especially when young children are in the house. Basic preventive measures include the following:
- Pools and spas must be securely fenced. The fence around the pool must be at least 4 feet high and it should cover all the sides of the pool. There should only be a single self-closing entry point and an alarm should be installed.
- Children must never be allowed to go near the pool unless there is an adult who can function as the official watcher. This adult should pay attention to what’s going on in the pool, and should not be distracted by their phones, gadgets, etc.
- It’s also a good idea for all the adults in the home to know CPR. Usually, the adults are the first people who may be able to offer help to a victim of swimming pool accidents.
Even with these measures, accidents can still happen. Though it may be ruled an accidental drowning or near drowning, such incidents can also lead to civil suits. If a member of your family gets hurt in someone else’s swimming pool, or a person gets hurt in your swimming pool, you should get expert legal advice. Call us for a free consultation to learn more about your legal situation and options.