Recent CDC report reveals rampant health & safety violations at public pools
Most parents are well aware of the dangers of letting kids play in pools without adequate supervision. Kids might suffer a drowning accident or a slip and fall accident while running around a wet pool deck, and either type of accident could cause permanent brain injury or even death.
But when was the last time you worried about your child being injured or killed by unsanitary conditions at a pool?
According to a recent report from the CDC, we should all be giving pool cleanliness a second thought. Based on the results of over 84,000 routine pool inspections, the CDC found that nearly 80 percent of public swimming pools had at least one safety violation. One in eight pools had to be closed immediately due to serious health and safety violations.
In addition to municipal pools, facilities at hotels, water parks, gyms, and apartment complexes were included in this study. The main health and safety problems were safety equipment violations that could present drowning risks and chemical safety violations that could present a risk of chemical-associated health events or bacterial infection.
When it comes to chemical safety violations, too little or too much of certain pool chemicals such as chlorine can be hazardous. Overdoing the chemicals can cause eye and respiratory tract problems, while skimping on the chemicals can allow waterborne parasites and pathogens to flourish. For example, the waterborne parasite Cryptosporidium can cause severely stunted growth in children after just one exposure. And in rare cases, children have actually been killed by waterborne infections of E. coli.
How to Protect Yourself at the Pool
The best way to ensure that you and your kids have a safe time at the pool is to inquire about pool maintenance. If there is a lifeguard on duty, they should have a daily record of the pool’s chlorine and pH levels. If there is no lifeguard and you cannot access the records, the CDC recommends getting test strips at your local hardware store or pool supply store to measure pH and disinfectant levels yourself.
Have You Lost a Loved One in a Pool Accident?
If you have lost a loved one in a drowning accident, slip and fall accident, or other type of pool accident, and you suspect the accident was caused by another party’s negligence, you may be able to secure compensation. Attorney Vargas can help you understand your legal rights and options and the amount of compensation you may stand to win through a wrongful death action. Attorney Vargas also handles brain injury cases from near-drownings at pools. To request a free consultation about your case, please contact us at 909-982-0707.
