A day spent swimming at the local pool, beach or lake is always a treat for everyone. Many people across the country go swimming regularly to keep cool and have fun. Unfortunately, a number of these outings turn tragic in a matter of minutes due to drowning and suffering swimming injuries.
During a drowning event, the person spending time under water would often lose consciousness and stop breathing, which in turn deprives the brain or the oxygenated blood it needs causing anoxic brain damage.
What is Anoxic Brain Damage?
Anoxic brain damage occurs when the brain is deprived of needed oxygen for a period of time. Stanley Marks, a Phoenix personal injury lawyer mentions how lack of oxygen in a drowning accident can lead to brain cell damage or irreversible cell death. This type of injury is mostly common among near-drowning incidents and could technically happen in any body of water; this includes everything from the ocean, sea, or river, to bathtubs, and backyard pools.
Anoxic brain damage causes a plethora of symptoms including memory loss, visual disturbances, cognitive issues, headaches, movement troubles, and more.
Anoxic Brain Damage and Legal Liability
Although the majority of drowning or near drowning accidents truly are accidents in which nobody is at fault, there are times when such unfortunate accidents easily could and should have been prevented.
In some cases, a body of water could be supervised by a lifeguard who wasn’t trained properly or wasn’t being attentive while on the job. In this situation the fault might fall on the lifeguard and the company that hired or certified the person at fault.
In other cases, the owners of an unprotected swimming pool could be at fault. In most states, there are laws requiring swimming pool owners and managers to provide a barrier to the pool for times when it’s not being actively supervised. Owners of unprotected swimming pools could suffer legal consequences should a drowning or near-drowning accident take place in their property.
Pool Safety
Spending time at the swimming pool is always an enjoyable activity with family and friends. It’s one of the best ways to exercise, and can be a perfect way to cool off on a hot day. Nonetheless, proper safety regulation and upkeep is essential to keeping everyone safe and out of danger.
In order to minimize the chance of any dangerous accident to happen around the swimming pool, owners need to put a lot of effort into safety and maintenance, and should:
- Have a lifeguard present at all times the pool is open.
- Post all the necessary safety signs appropriately around the property.
- Have a rigorous maintenance schedule to keep filters and cleaners fresh.
- Have a barrier around the swimming pool.
- Keep the area clean and keep debris away from the swimming pool.
If all the proper steps have been taken, near-drowning accidents should not be happening at swimming pools. By following the right safety procedures and precautions, pool owners would be able to provide a safe environment for everyone to enjoy. However, mistakes do happen and serious swimming pool accidents still take place in our community. So, you may ask, what should one do if they’ve been injured in a swimming pool accident?
What to Do if You’ve Suffered Anoxic Brain Damage
Suffering an injury at a swimming pool is often devastating and tragic. What often is an enjoyable outing could suddenly flip into a traumatic experience. While nothing can completely fix the damage that has been done, recovering a settlement compensation can help pay for medical bills, time off of work, and a comfortable life while and after recovering. Speak to a local attorney to learn more about your legal rights and what you can recover.