Everyone loves a day at the pool, and with scorching Arizonan summers, a relaxing swim just might be the best way to cool down. But swimming pools, when not properly maintained, can be incredibly dangerous. Drownings are more common than you think, and even when you survive, there may still be lasting damage.
What is Anoxia?
Anoxic brain damage (ABI) is a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused by a lack of oxygen. The most common way that anoxia occurs is through near-drownings. Surviving a drowning incident does not mean you got off scot-free, and ABI is proof of that. Typically, the brain damage begins to occur after just a few minutes of oxygen deprivation. That being said, the impact of minor or mild ABI often goes away quickly after the brain is given oxygen once again. If the oxygen deprivation lasts longer than five minutes, however, then you may end up suffering from permanent damage.
Anoxia is a serious medical condition that, when permanent, could impact every facet of your life. Symptoms of moderate to severe anoxia include:
Severe headaches
Confusion
Cortical blindness
Sudden mood swings
Uncontrollable shaking and jerking
Loss of balance
These kinds of symptoms can make it difficult to hold down a job, interact with your family, or even just enjoy a simple walk down the street. The risk of brain damage is precisely pool owners need to enforce proper pool safety.
Pool Safety
Everyone loves to spend some time at the pool. It can be the perfect way to cool off, get some exercise, and spend a little time with family and friends. But pools can be dangerous, especially ones that are not provided with proper safety regulation and upkeep.
Pool owners are responsible for keeping their visitors safe. That goes for both public and private pools. In order to prevent ABI and near-drowning accidents, a pool owner should always:
Have a lifeguard, or some other supervisor, readily available
Post appropriate signs
Keep filters and cleaners properly maintained
Keep debris away from and out of the pool
Have proper fencing surrounding the pool
Maintain all pool equipment
The fact is, near-drownings shouldn’t happen at pools. With the proper safety equipment and personnel in place, enjoying your time at a pool should be risk-free. Sadly, not all pool owners take the responsibility seriously. They may neglect to train their lifeguards, refuse to fix filters which can create currents that suck weak swimmers underwater, or not provide proper safety equipment that could save a life. How ever the near-drowning happens, it doesn’t change the fact that permanent brain damage is possible, if not likely. So then, you may ask, what are your options following such a swimming pool injury?
What Can You Do Now?
Severe cases of ABI cannot be reversed. Physical therapy and other such treatments can lessen the symptoms, but there is no cure currently available. However, when it comes to recovering damages and receiving justice, you may still have options.
We at the Breyer Law Offices, P.C. have worked with many clients who were injured at the swimming pool. We understand just how devastating and tragic these accidents can be and we are here to fight for you and your right to compensation. While a premises liability claim will not fix the damage that has been done, the money from the settlement can still help pay for your medical costs, your time off of work, and allow you to live comfortably while you recover. Receiving compensation from a claim may be key to your ability to move on from your accident. If you have developed brain damage as a result of a pool accident caused by negligence, contact us. Premises liability attorneys want to offer a helping hand.