Anytime you’re near a body of water, you risk drowning. Keeping that sobering fact in mind is extremely important, especially in the summer when many Oklahomans spend their days at the pool or on the lake.

Drowning can happen to anyone, regardless of age, swimming ability, and overall health. And in many cases, drowning happens quickly and silently. Victims may appear to be treading water, only to suddenly become submerged.

The best way to save victims from drowning is to reduce the risks of it happening in the first place. And the best way to do that is to be aware of the five most common risk factors for drowning.

1.  Impairment or Intoxication

People who have recently taken drugs or alcohol are at a higher risk of drowning when in or near water than sober people. According to the CDC, around 70% of water recreation deaths and nearly 25% of emergency department visits for near-drownings are associated with alcohol consumption.

Alcohol and many other drugs impair balance, coordination, and judgment while making users more likely to engage in risky behaviors. These factors can combine to make drowning more likely.

Prevention Plan: If you plan on swimming, abstain from using drugs, alcohol, and any medication that causes drowsiness or impairment. You should also abstain from substances if you are supervising family or friends who will be swimming.

2.  Not Being Able to Swim

Although even strong swimmers can drown, people who are weak swimmers or who can’t swim at all face a much higher risk of drowning. They may be unable to tread water or keep their heads above water, at which point they may require immediate rescue.

Prevention Plan: Enroll in swimming lessons to build basic swimming skills and water confidence. Encourage children and adults in your life to learn how to swim, and always use flotation devices in open water until sufficient swimming skills are developed.

3.  Swimming Alone

Children should always be supervised when swimming, and adults should swim in the company of others, too. Sudden cramps or other health problems can debilitate even strong swimmers. If they’re alone in the water when they experience those emergencies, they may be unable to get out before it’s too late.

Prevention Plan: Always swim with another person, regardless of age or swimming ability. Implement a buddy system where swimmers look out for each other and ensure that designated supervisors are looking out for children.

4.  Lack of Life Jackets and Rescue Devices

When you’re enjoying a boating day on the lake, you’re legally required to have enough life jackets for everyone on your boat. It’s also an extremely important safety measure.

Anytime someone gets in the water or on a tube, wakeboard, or water skis, they should wear a life jacket. You should also have a throwable flotation device handy. Without these essential pieces of safety gear, drowning becomes a much greater risk.

Prevention Plan: Ensure that life jackets are properly fitted for each individual and worn at all times when on or near the water. Regularly check and maintain life jackets and other rescue devices to ensure they are in good condition and easily accessible.

5.  Being Under the Age of 4

Children between the ages of 1-4 years old have the highest drowning rates of anyone in America. Infants are most likely to drown in bathtubs, while older children are more likely to drown in swimming pools. Many children drown in pools without their parents or other adults around, especially when they have access to pools at home or in their neighborhoods that aren’t properly fenced in.

Prevention Plan: Always supervise young children closely when they are near water, including bathtubs. Install proper fencing and safety barriers around your pool, and consider using a pool alarm to alert you if someone enters the water unexpectedly. You could be liable if a neighborhood child is injured in your pool, even if they were using it without your permission or knowledge.

Who Can Be Held Liable for Drowning Accidents?

Sometimes, people drown because of others’ negligence. Children may fall into pools with unlocked gates or entrances, and adults may fall off boats that aren’t equipped with required flotation devices.

In Oklahoma, different parties can be held liable for drowning-related deaths, including:

• Property Owners: Both private and public pools must be safe for use for everyone, including children who may wander onto the property. Property owners can be held liable when their pools aren’t fenced in and locked and children are able to gain access to the water.
• Pool Operators and Staff: Pools must be properly maintained with adequate warnings and signage to keep guests safe. Although not all public pools in Oklahoma are required to have supervision or on-duty lifeguards, they are often required at certain types of pools, including municipal pools.
• Pool Equipment Manufacturers: Companies that manufacture pools or pool components may be held liable for drowning deaths if their products contributed to or caused them. For example, children may fall into pools if gates or pool covers are faulty and don’t prevent access to the water.
• Boat Operators: When someone who was riding on a boat jumps or falls into the water and drowns, the operator of the boat may be held liable if their negligence contributed to the death. Their liability may be due to reckless driving, driving under the influence, or not following safety regulations.
• Boat Owners: Boat owners are often the people driving boats when accidents and drownings occur, but not always. Even when they weren’t driving when these incidents happened, boat owners—including rental and tour companies—can be held liable if they failed to provide necessary safety equipment, including lifejackets and throwable floatation devices, that could have prevented a drowning.

We Help the Families of Drowning Victims Get Compensation

When drowning is caused by another person’s or party’s negligence, it’s our goal to help the family get maximum compensation.

If you lost a loved one in a drowning incident, our Oklahoma City wrongful death lawyers want to help. Contact Parrish DeVaughn Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation.

We’ll review the facts of what happened, collect evidence to prove your loved one’s death was the result of negligence, and fight to get you every penny you deserve.

Originally published August 9, 2021.