Drowning and swimming accidents claim the lives of more than 1,000 children and adults each year - in the first several months of 2011 nearly 40 have drowned and another 38 have almost drowned throughout the United States, many of these resulting in costly premises liability lawsuits and wrongful death claims. Water-related accidents are higher in warm climates and during the hot months of late spring and summer, when a greater number of people flock to pools and beaches to cool off. The best way to stay safe and avoid drowning accidents in warm climates is to take precautions before going anywhere near the water. Remember, it takes only 2 inches of water and fewer than 5 minutes for a small child to drown, so when your family is visiting the pool or the beach, vigilance and precautionary measures are of utmost importance.

Water Safety Tips

Follow these safety tips before and during a trip to the ocean or a pool and reduce the chances of a drowning accident:

1. Make sure everyone in your party knows how to swim, and that small children are outfitted with, and wear, appropriate floatation devices to keep their head above the water at all times.
2. Approach the water in pairs using the buddy system, in which a stronger swimmer teams up with a weaker swimmer and both keep an eye on each other in the water.
3. Make sure an adult is always actively supervising children in the water and never swim in an area without a lifeguard on duty.
4. Do not drink alcohol or take any form of drugs before swimming or before supervising others in the water.
5. Learn water safety skills such as how to safely swim while carrying an unconscious or panicking person and learn how to perform CPR.
6. If you have a pool, install fencing around it to protect others from swimming in it unattended, make sure all drains have safety covers so nobody gets stuck under water and place an alarm or alert sound on the door entering the pool area so that no-one can get in the water without your knowledge.

Water-Related Accident Liability

Most water-related accidents occur because the owner or supervisor of the pool or beach failed to provide an adequately and reasonably safe environment for adults and children to swim. If you or someone you care about has been the victim of a water-related accident such as a slip-and-fall accident resulting in a serious injury or a near-drowning accident, then you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the property owners under premises liability law. Consult a persona injury lawyer familiar with drowning accidents to determine whether your situation was caused by a negligent violation of safety standards. A successful case against those responsible will help others avoid drowning accidents in the future and provide you and your family with financial compensation for any losses related to the accident.