Pool/Drowning Accidents

Boy Killed in Water Themed Amusement Park Ride

Published on: July 5, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

July 5, 2021: IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A young boy was killed in a deadly accident on the Raging River Adventureland Park in Altoona, Iowa. Investigators are looking into the cause of the boat accident ride which killed a child Saturday night at the Iowa amusement park when a raft carrying six people flipped over. This is the second deadly incident on the ride in five years.

Michael Jaramillo, 11, died Sunday from his injuries, and another minor remained hospitalized in critical condition, according to the Altoona Police Department. Two other riders suffered minor injuries.

It’s important to follow safety protocols when operating a water park at all times.

New Danger for Swimmers This Summer Due to a Lack of Lifeguards

Published on: July 2, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

pexels-markus-spiske-97047-200x300 Friday, July 2, 2021, Texas: As Americans head back to beaches and pools this summer, there is a new warning for families: Swim at their own risk. Some parts of the country are experiencing a dire lifeguard shortage. Pool openings were actually delayed in Texas with reported that hundreds of lifeguard jobs were still available in early June.

Tom Gill, Vice President of the U.S. Lifesaving Association, said, “There’s no substitute for safety, and the lifeguards are a part of the safety chain. The pandemic is largely to blame for the shortage. Towns are not able to hire, train, and certify new lifeguards fast enough, just as more Americans are flocking to waterfront destinations for the summer.”

Some pools have closed due to staffing shortages. A few facilities have posted notices on Facebook and websites turning away eager pool-goers. In Austin, Texas, the rapidly growing city is trying to stay afloat with just 250 lifeguards registered with the city compared to 750 in a typical year. “We just don’t have the time to get the lifeguards trained and on the payroll for this summer,” said Jodi Jay of Austin Parks and Recreation.

CHLORINE SHORTAGE COULD CAUSE DANGERS THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AS THE SUMMER SEASON KICKS OFF FOR POOLS, RESORTS AND WATERPARKS

Published on: May 28, 2021 | by Carabin Shaw

May 24, 2021, San Antonio, TX – Every summer families head to the beaches, lakes and pools to beat the heat and cool off. Summer fun also means a serious focus on summer safety. Texas had the deadliest rate of child pool and spa drownings in 2019 for children under age 15. Drowning can happen anywhere which makes it necessary for everyone to practice water safety.

Just last week a two-year-old toddler died after squeezing through a safety gate and falling into a swimming pool here in Texas and another drowning tragedy involving toddlers occurred in Florida at a daycare center. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drowning is one of the top causes of unintentional deaths for children in the U.S. There are nearly 400 pool-related drownings per year involving children.

In the U.S. drowning takes an average of 3,500-4,000 lives per year. That is nearly 10 fatal drownings per day. The CDC reports an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings annually in the U.S. An additional 332 people die each year from drowning in boat-related incidents.