Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog
A Washington DC drowning accident has claimed the life of a young girl. The six-year-old girl who was pulled from a Turkey Thicket Recreation Center pool on June 23 was later pronounced dead at Children’s National Medical Center.
Bystanders performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim while waiting for fire and rescue officials to arrive. A lifeguard was on duty when the girl drowned.
Witnesses say the girl jumped into the deep end from the diving board and that at the time the pool was very crowded. According to reports, it was the next person to get on the diving board who notified the lifeguard that the young girl was at the pool bottom. The pool is about 12-feet deep.
Child Drowning Facts (CDC):
• There were 3,443 accidental drowning deaths in the US in 2007.
• More than one in every five drowning deaths are kids from the 14 and under age group.
• For every child drowning death, four other children will have received emergency medical care for their drowning injuries.
• Drowning injuries can result in permanent brain damage.
Reasons why a pool drowning victim or his/her family may have grounds for a Washington DC personal injury or wrongful death claim:
• Inadequate safety equipment
• Lack of supervision by a lifeguard or a qualified adult
• Failure to warn that there is no lifeguard on duty
• Improper maintenance
• Improperly attached ladders
• Maryland slip and fall hazards
• Improperly installed diving boards
• Failure to clean the pool properly, which can make it hard to see anyone who may be drowning
• Failure install the regulation pool drain that is now mandated by law
• Failure to secure/lock pool area during off hours
6-year-old drowns in NE D.C. public pool, Washington Post, June 23, 2010
Young Girl Drowns At DC Rec Center Pool, WUSA9, June 23, 2010
Unintentional Drowning: Fact Sheet, CDC
Related Web Resources:
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center
Pool and Spa Safety Publications, Consumer Product Safety Commission
Our Washington DC injuries to minors and children would like to offer you a free consultation.