The following article was written by Mr. Gelber and appeared in Western New York-area newspapers.
Spring is finally here and our thoughts are wandering to sunshine, walks, shorts and, maybe, even swimming! With the warmer weather comes excitement and, often times, a new and daring attitude toward life. As an attorney, I am also forced to think about that other side of fun, which is the injuries that can occur if safety measures are not taken in the excitement of the moment.
What readily comes to mind is the need to wear helmets for bike riding, roller blading and other sports. What is perhaps not as obvious but, none-the-less, is as dangerous, is swimming in the backyard pool. I thought I would take this opportunity to offer a few tips for pool safety:
- Always have a fence around your pool to keep children and pets away from the area when it is not supervised.
- Keep tables, chairs, bikes, ladders and other large objects away from a pool fence so children cannot climb over the fence and get near the pool when it is unsupervised.
- Always have an adult who knows how to swim supervising children when they are in or near the pool.
- Always have flotation devices, poles and life saving devices in plain view near the pool.
- Never swim or allow others to swim who are under the influence of alcohol or medication.
- Keep a telephone nearby for emergency use and post 911 as a reminder.
- Keep CD and MP3 players, stereos and other electrical devices away from the pool or other wet areas and surfaces.
Don’t forget that just because your child knows how to swim does not mean that he or she is safe in the pool. Supervision is the sole most important factor in pool safety. Have a happy and safe swimming season!
If you want to discuss an accident in which you or your family has been involved, call us today at (716) 568-7039 for a free consultation. Our office is located at 6512 Main Street in Buffalo, NY.
