Causes of Drowning Accidents

cartwrightlaw - May 23, 2022 -

In the warm summer months, everyone enjoys getting to swim in the pool to cool off.  Unfortunately, proper precautions are not always taken to ensure everyone’s safety while in the waters in San Francisco swimming pools or Bay Area. Drowning is the third-leading cause of unintentional injury death, and it accounts for 236,000 deaths each year.  If you have lost a child or loved one due to a fatal or non-fatal drowning accident, you need an experienced drowning accident attorney to bring the liable parties to justice. Contact The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. today to schedule your free case review.  

Populations at Risk of Drowning

There are certain populations that are at a higher risk of drowning, which can often be categorized based on location:

Bathtubs

1. Infants: Children under the age of one—many times, they lack adult supervision
2. People with medical conditions, such as epilepsy

Swimming Pool

1. Children ages 1 to 4; more children between these ages die of drowning than due to any other injuries, except birth defects

1. Black children: black children (ages 10-14) are 7.6 times more likely to die from drowning than white children

Natural Water

1. American Indian or Alaska Native children: Native American children are 2.7 times more likely to die than white children
2. Children age 15 and older

Two other prevalent groups

1. Males: gender plays a big role in a higher likelihood of drowning since men usually take more risks while in the water and are more likely to consume alcohol while swimming
2. People with lower socioeconomic status: people who are in a lower social class, minority groups, and those with less education 

Factors that Increase Likelihood of Drowning

There are numerous situations where the risk of drowning increases:

1. Inability to swim: children and adults who are weak swimmers or cannot swim are at a higher risk of drowning
2. Lack of supervision: drowning can happen very quickly to children who are not being closely watched
3. Alcohol consumption: alcohol reduces balance and coordination and also increases the chances that someone will take risks
4. Failure to wear life jackets: the U.S. Coast Guard reported in 2019 that in 86% of drowning incidents, the victims were not wearing a life jacket
5. Flood disasters: 75% of deaths in flood disasters were due to drowning. Drownings in flood disasters are usually more prevalent in low-income countries.

Although a drowning may be due to someone trespassing onto another’s property, the owner may ultimately be found responsible. For example, the owner of a private pool would be held accountable for a child’s drowning if the pool did not have proper fencing.

Long-Term Impacts of Near-Drowning

The long-term medical effects of a non-fatal drowning can change a family’s life forever. A child who experiences any prolonged lack of oxygen may have brain damage. A condition known as hypoxemia is a result of abnormally low oxygen levels in the blood.

A child who has hypoxemia can experience the following symptoms:

1. Shortness of breath
2. Fast heartbeat
3. Coughing or wheezing
4. Bluish appearance in fingernails, skin, or lips
5. Confusion
6. Headache

This lack of oxygen can cause damage to the brain, lungs, and heart and can cause other internal organs to shut down. Left untreated, hypoxemia can result in severe brain damage or death.

An Aggressive Drowning Accident Attorney on Your Side

The losses that accompany losing a loved one are unimaginable. Your life can instantly change due to someone else’s carelessness. Do not let another person’s bad judgment go unpunished. You need a devoted San Francisco drowning accident attorney to handle your case from start to finish. Contact The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. today to receive the closure you deserve.

In the warm summer months, everyone enjoys getting to swim in the pool to cool off.  Unfortunately, proper precautions are not always taken to ensure everyone’s safety while in the waters in San Francisco swimming pools or Bay Area. Drowning is the third-leading cause of unintentional injury death, and it accounts for 236,000 deaths each year.  If you have lost a child or loved one due to a fatal or non-fatal drowning accident, you need an experienced drowning accident attorney to bring the liable parties to justice. Contact The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. today to schedule your free case review.  

Populations at Risk of Drowning

There are certain populations that are at a higher risk of drowning, which can often be categorized based on location:

Bathtubs

1. Infants: Children under the age of one—many times, they lack adult supervision
2. People with medical conditions, such as epilepsy

Swimming Pool

1. Children ages 1 to 4; more children between these ages die of drowning than due to any other injuries, except birth defects

1. Black children: black children (ages 10-14) are 7.6 times more likely to die from drowning than white children

Natural Water

1. American Indian or Alaska Native children: Native American children are 2.7 times more likely to die than white children
2. Children age 15 and older

Two other prevalent groups

1. Males: gender plays a big role in a higher likelihood of drowning since men usually take more risks while in the water and are more likely to consume alcohol while swimming
2. People with lower socioeconomic status: people who are in a lower social class, minority groups, and those with less education 

Factors that Increase Likelihood of Drowning

There are numerous situations where the risk of drowning increases:

1. Inability to swim: children and adults who are weak swimmers or cannot swim are at a higher risk of drowning
2. Lack of supervision: drowning can happen very quickly to children who are not being closely watched
3. Alcohol consumption: alcohol reduces balance and coordination and also increases the chances that someone will take risks
4. Failure to wear life jackets: the U.S. Coast Guard reported in 2019 that in 86% of drowning incidents, the victims were not wearing a life jacket
5. Flood disasters: 75% of deaths in flood disasters were due to drowning. Drownings in flood disasters are usually more prevalent in low-income countries.

Although a drowning may be due to someone trespassing onto another’s property, the owner may ultimately be found responsible. For example, the owner of a private pool would be held accountable for a child’s drowning if the pool did not have proper fencing.

Long-Term Impacts of Near-Drowning

The long-term medical effects of a non-fatal drowning can change a family’s life forever. A child who experiences any prolonged lack of oxygen may have brain damage. A condition known as hypoxemia is a result of abnormally low oxygen levels in the blood.

A child who has hypoxemia can experience the following symptoms:

1. Shortness of breath
2. Fast heartbeat
3. Coughing or wheezing
4. Bluish appearance in fingernails, skin, or lips
5. Confusion
6. Headache

This lack of oxygen can cause damage to the brain, lungs, and heart and can cause other internal organs to shut down. Left untreated, hypoxemia can result in severe brain damage or death.

An Aggressive Drowning Accident Attorney on Your Side

The losses that accompany losing a loved one are unimaginable. Your life can instantly change due to someone else’s carelessness. Do not let another person’s bad judgment go unpunished. You need a devoted San Francisco drowning accident attorney to handle your case from start to finish. Contact The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. today to receive the closure you deserve.

Our successful case results are a reflection of the values and virtues we believe in and uphold at Cartwright Law Firm. Nothing stops us from pursuing justice on behalf of those who need it.

Robert E. Cartwright Jr.
Founder and Managing Partner