Swimming Pool Construction

Investigators are trying to determine how a 4-year-old boy with autism managed to get into his apartment complex swimming pool on his own and drown. Alexie Lepoer was found in the water on Motheras Day.

At the time of the Westborough drowning death, which occurred at the Park Village West complex, the pool had not yet been opened for the swimming season and the water was murky. It had been uncovered about a week before the accident so that it could be cleaned and treated.

Although the pool is surrounded by a chain-link fence that was constructed in the 1970as, authorities believe that Alexie may have gotten into the water by crawling under a section of the fence that had come looseajust big enough for someone his size to be able to crawl through. Town investigators are now looking at other pools in the area with similar fencing.

Pool owners are supposed to make sure that their swimming pools and hot tubs are not accessible to kids during off hours or when the pool is closed for the season because usually that is when no one is around to supervise, which can increase the chances of a Massachusetts pool drowning.

Steps a pool owner can take to secure a pool:

aC/ Use a pool cover that can be locked or is rigid and motorized and cannot be rolled open otherwise.
aC/ Make sure the fence is high enough and made of materials that cannot be easily scaled and that its slats are narrow enough that a child cannot squeeze through them
aC/ Install locks on pool gates
aC/ Install alarms on pool doors
aC/ Remove aboveground pool ladders and steps when the pool isnat in use
aC/ If the pool is inflatable, empty it of any water when not in use
aC/ Make sure pool drains meet federal safety standards.
aC/ Keep the water clean and free of debris so it is easier to spot anyone who might have gone under.

Our Boston injury lawyers represent families with Massachusetts premise liability lawsuits and wrongful death cases against the owners of properties where a pool drowning occurred.

Westborough drowning victim was severely autistic, Boston.com, May 15, 2012

Boy's death prompts inspection of Westboro pool fencing, NECN, May 14, 2012

More Blog Posts:
Massachusetts Swimming Pool Death: State Report Released on Womanas Fatal Fall River Drowning, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, April 20, 2012

Boy Dies Following Shrewsbury Drowning Accident at Summer Camp, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, July 29, 2011

Truro Manas Family to Sue Provincetown for Manas 2008 Massachusetts Drowning Death, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, August 14, 2010

With the weather expected to warm up in the coming months, many kids are eagerly awaiting the day when they will be able to rush out and jump in the pool. While swimming is a lot of fun, it can also be dangerous, and our Boston injury lawyers have helped children and their families recover compensation for injuries and deaths resulting from a Massachusetts drowning.

While grownups can often anticipate the risks involved for kids when swimming in a regular pool, hot tub, or beach, portable pools can be just as dangerous. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, it receives reports of about 35 child swimming deaths involving kids younger than 5 in portable pools every year. Thatas 11% of all pool drowning deaths for that age group.

It is the responsibility of the person who owns or oversees a pool to make sure that the kids using it are safe. It doesnat matter whether it is a small blow-up pool or one that can contain thousands of gallons of water. It takes just a few inches of water for someone who has submerged his/her face in it to drown. A child who survives a Boston drowning accident may be left with a traumatic brain injury, severe disabilities, or other injuries.

Child drownings can happen when the pool is inadequately supervised. This may mean that there wasnat an adult present that knew how to swim at the pool or the portable pool containing water was left easily accessible to kids when no grown ups were around. Placing a cover on the pool, fencing it in with a barricade high enough that children canat get in, or locking up the portable pool are some ways to prevent accidental drowning.

Drowning is Silent: Portable Pools, CPSC, April 24, 2012

Unintentional Drowning: Fact Sheet, CDC

More Blog Posts:
Massachusetts Swimming Pool Death: State Report Released on Womanas Fatal Fall River Drowning, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, April 12, 2012

Boy Dies Following Shrewsbury Drowning Accident at Summer Camp, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, July 29, 2012

13-Year-Old Nearly Drowns in Falmouth Swimming Pool Accident at Holiday Inn, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, July 21, 2010

The Department of Conservation and Recreation has issued its final report on the 2011 Fall River, Massachusetts swimming pool accident death of Marie Joseph. The 36-year-old woman, who could not swim, drowned in the state-run pool. Because the water was so dirty it was two days before her body was discovered.

Authorities blamed bad decisions by pool employees for the tragic accident and they have said that Josephas death was preventable. Also, the water in the pool failed to meet Massachusetts standards that day and it shouldn't have been open for use.

The state is recommending that better pumps and pool equipment be provided at the Fall River facility and the pool depth be lowered from 12 feet to 5 A1/2 feet. Changes will also be made to other state-run pools to enhance user safety. For example, another 10 pools will be updated and their depths reduced to just over five feet. There will be more lifeguards, and security cameras with motion detectors will be added. Staff will also have to undergo more extensive training.

Joseph drowned after going down a water slide. The DCR has decided to suspend the use of water slides at all of its pools. It will also improve visibility checks.

DCR Commissioner Edward Lambert believes that one of the reasons Joseph drowned is that the pool had depended too heavily on seasonal staff. Moving forward, full-time employees from an aquatic and waterfront safety division will replace these employees. All state-run pools will also safety regulations and rules posted by them.

Our Boston drowning accident lawyers represent the families of children and adults injured or killed in accidents in swimming pools, hot tubs, and Jacuzzis. We have filed Massachusetts premises liability and products liability lawsuits against negligent parties, as well as inadequate supervision cases against those that failed to do their job in monitoring the pool or spa.

In final report on Fall River drowning, DCR unveils plan to improve safety at state-run pools, Boston.com, April 20, 2012

State releases final investigative report on Fall River pool drowning, Herald News.com, April 20, 2012

Pool Chief: Woman's Drowning Was Preventable, WCVB TV Boston, April 20, 2012

More Blog Posts:
Massachusetts Swimming Pool Accident: Drowned Womanas Body Was Concealed by aCloudya Water for Two Days, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, June 30, 2011

Truro Manas Family to Sue Provincetown for Manas 2008 Massachusetts Drowning Death, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, August 14, 2010

13-Year-Old Nearly Drowns in Falmouth Swimming Pool Accident at Holiday Inn, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, July 21, 2010

A family from California were taken aback when they woke up to find a Lexus at the bottom of their swimming pool.

On US Mother's Day the Diaz family were woken up with a bang when driver Modesto Cabral allegedly ploughed his Lexus through a breeze block wall surrounding their family home, plunging straight into their swimming pool early Sunday (May 13th) morning.

Family shocked at finding a Lexus in their swimming pool (AP)

However, while the family from La PuenteA were certainly shocked, the incident wasn't totally unexpected.

Janelle Diaz, 16, told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune: 'We had always joked around about it that someone was going to end up in the pool - because they've hit our wall before.'

According to ABC News officials from the California Highway Patrol believe that Cabral drove his 2006 Lexus GS 430 through a cross roads, over a pavement and through the wall.

He escaped with only minor injuries after squeezing himself through the passenger-side front window as the vehicle sunk to the bottom of the swimming pool.

Officer Steve Licon told reporters that investigating officials determined that Cabral was 'under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs,' during the 5.25 am incident.

Cabral is currently being held in police custody; meanwhile a crane was used to lift his Lexus out of the pool and return it to dry land.

While summertime in Miami Beach means beautiful weather and luxurious days of freedom, but with the season comes some hazards, including:

1) Miami Beach boating accidents. As the nice weather arrives, many people enjoy the season by heading out on their boats. Unfortunately, as a result, summer can be a prime time for boating accidents. In fact, Florida leads the nation when it comes to boating accidents. Speed, alcohol, and inexperience are among the top reasons for boating accidents, according to experts, and accidents caused by these factors are entirely preventable. Getting adequate training, boating sober, and obeying boating laws can help ensure a safe and enjoyable summer.

2) Miami Beach slip and fall injuries. Summer rains as well as more time spent outside can actually increase the risk of slip and fall accidents. As we head outdoors to enjoy the summer, we tend to bring out additional items, including gardening tools and barbecue implements, which can easily get lost outdoors and pose a tripping hazard. Cleaning up regularly outdoors, keeping grass trimmed, and fixing uneven steps and pavement can help prevent falls.

3) Miami Beach pool injuries. Pools are a major attraction in the summer, especially for children home from school. However, pools are also responsible for many drowning accidents and various injuries each summer. To keep your pool area safe, install a safe-locking gate and surround your pool with a tall isolation fence to ensure that no one can enter the pool area unsupervised. An alarm that lets you know when anyone enters the pool area is also a good precaution, especially if you have young children. In addition, studies have shown that early, formal swimming lessons can help keep children safer around the water.

4) Miami Beach car accidents. Summertime in Florida usually means an influx of tourists and more people are on the road as they visit Floridaas many attractions. In addition to heavier traffic, summer also brings with it road construction, which can also create a hazard for drivers. Following traffic rules scrupulously and driving distraction-free can greatly reduce your risk of a car crash.

5) Miami Beach fire-related injuries. Summer is a prime time for burn injuries, in part because forest fires are more common and because barbecue season can mean more residential fires as well. This is a good time to check your smoke detectors to ensure that they are in good working order. If you are just setting up your barbecue area, this is a good time to ensure that your barbecue (or fire pit) is well away from your home and from any flammable surface. Buying a fire extinguisher for your kitchen and your barbecue area is also a smart investment.

Now that the summer months are approaching, many people look forward to opening their swimming pools at home. However, while fun, swimming pools are also a source of danger, especially for young children. Each year, children are rushed to local emergency rooms as Davie brain injury patients or spinal cord injury patients due to pool-related injuries. In addition, many children suffer near-drowning or even fatal injuries caused by swimming pool injuries. To prevent a Davie swimming pool accident at your home, experts advise:

1) Adding the right fence. The right fence should completely surround the pool area and should come with a self-locking gate. This fence should be in addition to any other property fencing your yard has. According to the CDC, a four-sided isolation pool fence reduces drowning by 83% when compared with three-sided general property fences.

2) Ban alcohol at pool parties. While many homeowners combine barbecue, alcoholic beverages, and pool parties, but it can be a deadly mix. According to the CDC, many drowning deaths involve alcohol use. Alcohol affects judgment and balance, and can easily cause a drowning death or pool injury. Alcohol is also a leading cause of Florida and Davie boating accidents.

3) Add other safety features for your pool area. While a self-locking gate and isolating fence are the basic safety requirements, there are many safety devices that can help make your pool safer, and these devices are more affordable today than ever before. For example, one of the best safety devices you can buy for your pool area is an alarm that can alert you anytime someone enters the pool area.

4) Ensure that everyone in your family is a good swimmer. Excellent swimming skills can reduce the risk of drowning. According to the CDC, signing up children between the ages of one and four for swimming lessons can reduce the risk of accidental drowning by 88%.

5) Add no-slip treads around your pool area. In addition to drowning, many Davie pool-related injuries include Davie brain injuries and spinal cord injuries caused by falls. In many cases, the wet area surrounding a pool can facilitate Davie slip and fall accidents. Adding no-slip treads can help prevent these types of accidents on your property. Enforcing a no-running rule in the pool area is also important to help prevent Davie slip and fall injuries.

6) Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as well as other first aid lessons. If an accident does occur at your home, you will be able to help until emergency personnel arrive.