Boston Injury Attorney Blog

In the summer, we all want to cool off and relax in the water. But whether you're at the pool, a lake or a Cape Cod beach, it's essential to protect yourself and your family. Each year, more than 300 children age 15 and younger drown in residential swimming pools and spas alone. Thousands more are injured. One of the most important ways you can protect your children is to make sure they know how to swim and never let them swim without adult supervision. Here are some other safety tips for enjoying the water in Massachusetts this summer:

Avoiding Swimming Pool Accidents

• Always watch your children when they are in the pool, even if they know how to swim.


• Do not read, talk on the phone or get involved in any other distractions while watching them.


• Enroll your child in swimming lessons.


• Take a class to learn CPR.


• Bring a cell phone to the pool so you can call 911 if there is an emergency.


• If a child is missing, always check the pool first.


• At public pools, stay and watch your children. On the hottest days, lifeguards may have too many people to safely supervise.


• Avoid diving boards. Each year, more than 6,500 diving-related injuries are reported across the country, according to the American Academy for Pediatrics. These include serious head and spinal cord injuries and the majority involve children ages 10 to 14. If you must use a diving board, make sure you are diving into a minimum of 10 feet of water. Never dive in an above-ground pool.

Avoid Ocean Swimming Accidents

• Beaches managed by a city or town usually have lifeguards on duty - but not always. It is best to check in advance.


• Follow all instructions from lifeguards and swim in the permitted area.


• If you are renting a private cottage on Cape Cod or another vacation area, you may have access to a private beach. Do not expect private beaches to have lifeguards. Check with the property management company.


• Never swim alone or let your children go into the water alone. If you are not swimming with them, at least follow them down to the surf and supervise them.


• Approximately 100 people die each year in rip currents, according to the United States Lifesaving Association. Rip currents also account for over 80 percent of beach lifeguard rescues. If you are caught in a rip current, do not try to fight it. Swim out of the current in a direction parallel to the shoreline. When you are free from the current, swim towards the shore.


• Do not try to save someone from a rip current. Many people drown while trying to help others. Call 911 for help. Throw the rip current victim a life preserver and yell instructions to help or calm the person.


• Watch out for marine life, especially jellyfish. Check the website for the beach or ask the lifeguards when you get there about jellyfish warnings before swimming.

• Remember that unlike the ocean or a pool, a lake can be dark and murky, making it difficult to tell what is under the water.


• Have your child wear a life jacket.


• Wear lake shoes to protect feet.


• Make sure docks are in good condition. Never swim under a dock and always look carefully before jumping off one to make sure no one is in the way.


• If you are using rafts or other flotation devices, make sure you are using the appropriate type. Some rafts and tubes may be suitable for lounging in shallow water, but not strong enough to handle tubing off a boat.

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