It’s summertime, and for many of us, that means going to the local community pool to cool off, enjoy some activities and soak up some sunshine. But with the fun often comes inherent dangers that are easy to overlook in our eagerness to make a splash.
Before you take your family out for an afternoon at the pool this summer, be sure you know what hazards to look out for so you can keep them safe.
1. Drowning
Drowning is one of the most serious risks associated with swimming. Even if you know how to swim, it’s important to always supervise children in or near the water.
2. Slip and fall injuries
Wet pool decks and slippery surfaces can increase the risk of slip and fall injuries.
3. Infections
Harmful bacteria are another potential hazard at a community pool. Chlorine is used to help keep bacteria levels low, but it’s still possible for people to get sick from swimming in contaminated water.
A city has a duty of care to maintain the pool in a reasonably safe condition and provide appropriate warnings to users of any known hazards. This duty of care may be breached by negligent or reckless behavior, such as failure to maintain pool equipment properly, provide adequate supervision and training to lifeguards, or enforce safety rules.
Whether or not a city can be held responsible for injuries in a community pool will depend on the specific circumstances of the case. If a city fails to meet its duty of care and an individual is injured as a result, the city may be held liable for damages.