High School Freshman Dies in School Swimming Pool Drowning

Posted by Jesse Guerra on January 27, 2012

Texas pool accidentThe Hartford Courant reported this month on the tragic drowning death of a young high school freshman.  Our swimming pool drowning lawyer knows that the worst season for these accidents is the summer, when many more people hit the waters to beat the heat.  However, it should not be forgotten that winter tragedies also occur.  Wherever there is water, the risks of injury are present. 

What seems particularly disturbing about this latest incident is that the drowning occurred in the middle of a high school swim class.  According to the story, 15-year old Marcum Asiamah, a freshman at East Hartford School, was participating in a swimming class with other students when the tragedy struck.  Details about the incident remain murky, and local authorities have yet to release any concrete findings.  What little has been reported suggests that no one knows for sure when the boy went under water.  All that is known is that at some point during the lesson he was spotted at the bottom of the pool by other swimmers.  Those nearby pulled him out of the water and emergency responders were called.  CPR was being performed when the crew arrived, but it was to no avail.  The boy did not survive the incident.

The school’s superintendent issued a very brief statement noting that “student safety is of paramount concern, and the school district will continue to work with the East Hartford Police Department to investigate this incident.  The pool will remain closed pending this investigation.”

Obviously Marcum’s family and friends—as well as all concerned community members—likely have many questions.  The most obvious one would be how the young man could have fallen under the water surrounded by others without someone noticing before it was too late.  It is particularly shocking when one considers that there must have been teachers or other adults around providing supervision and leading the less.  It is unacceptable for lax supervision to be provided to students at these times—particularly because the students likely have no choice but to participate in the lesson.

It will be incumbent upon all those involved to ask very tough questions to figure out exactly what happened here.  Our swimming pool drowning lawyer knows that a range of factors could have been in play.  Beyond figuring out whether there was proper supervision, other issues need to be addressed.  For example, water clarity may have been involved.  If the water was even the least bit murky, the cloudiness may have prevented observers from seeing the struggling student quickly enough when he slipped under.

If you or someone you know is dealing with a situation such as the one here, be sure to get in touch with legal professionals to learn more about how the law applies in these cases.  Our national renowned swimming pool accident attorney, Jesse Guerra, has worked on dozens of cases just like this one.  Known as the nation’s “go to” pool drowning lawyer and swimming safety advocate, Mr. Guerra helps families in the aftermath of these incidents who want to ensure that another tragedy is prevented.

 

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Swimming Pool Drowning in Front of Nine Lifeguards Leads to $10 Million Jury Verdict

Posted by Jesse Guerra on December 22, 2011

lifesaver.jpgIn the midst of the holidays and the cold that grips large parts of the country, it is often difficult to think about the prime swimming season.  It is unlikely that many residents of Chicago, New York, or other northern cities are thinking about swimming in outdoor pools that are closed or lakes that are frozen over.   However, our swimming pool accident lawyer knows that swimming takes place each and every day in various parts of the country in both indoor and outdoor pools.  That is why it remains important to share reminders about the importance of safe swimming and maintenance throughout the year.

For example, North Jersey News recently reported on a jury verdict that was handed down in a swimming pool case involving a13-year old boy who drowned in the summer of 2008.  The boy, Soo Hyeon Park, was visiting the city of Ridgewood from South Korea and the family was using the public Graydon Pool.  There were nine lifeguards in the stands around the pool on the day that the accident took place.  However, when the young child began to struggle staying afloat, not one of those guards noticed.  The boy was underwater for a considerable period of time before a family friend noticed him and attempted a rescue.  The friend told the mother of the problem who then alerted the lifeguards.  Tragically, even then, the pool manager only ordered the guards to search for the boy around the pool, instead of actually sending them inside the pool.  It wasn’t until 40 minutes later that the boy was actually pulled from the water.  The family eventually filed a swimming pool lawsuit alleging negligent supervision of the pool and inadequate lifeguard response.  Late last month the jury agreed with the family and awarded them the verdict.

As the family’s swimming pool drowning attorney noted, “there were actually lifeguards who were searching the parking lot.  They should have seen this child as he was drowning.  They should have gone in and saved him.  That’s what lifeguards do.”

This is a sad reminder that the mere presence of lifeguards are of little value to swimmers if those guards do not act appropriately to help those in danger.  In fact, inadequate lifeguards may actually be worse than no lifeguards at all.  This is because many onlookers provide less oversight than they normally would under the assumption that lifeguards are around to help in case something happens.  

As our national drowning lawyer at the J. Guerra Law Firm has explained to various audiences, it remains essential for all lifeguards to be properly trained and follow basic rules while on duty.  For one thing, they must be mentally fresh.  Studies have found that it is almost impossible to effectively scan a pool effectively for more than 30 minutes at a time.  Lifeguards needs 5 or 10 minute “reset” breaks between each of those sessions to ensure that they are actually capable of spotting a struggling swimmer while observing the pool.  Tired eyes on lifeguards render them ineffective. 

Similarly, it is important for guards to be rotated, because studies show that staying in the same place for too long decreases attention span.  Considering the need for proper rest, it is therefore important that there be enough staff members on duty at a pool so that no single guard is forced to work more than possible at maximum effectiveness.  Failure to account for these known risk factors may be an example of negligent pool supervision.   

 

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Daytona Beach Shores Hotel Pool Drowning Takes Life of Toddler

Posted by Jesse Guerra on November 22, 2011

indoor hotel pool 3.jpgOur hotel drowning lawyer was shocked and saddened after learning of the death of a 2 year-old Orlando child in a Daytona Beach Shores hotel pool accident on October 28, 2011. The drowning occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. at the Oceanside Inn Hotel on South Atlantic Avenue. The hotel surveillance video camera captured the events and showed the young boy was with family members at the swimming pool.  However, while swimming in the hotel pool the child began to struggle, and he eventually went under water.  It was over nine minutes before the drowning child was noticed. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead at Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach.

Hotel swimming pools, like the one in this story, pose great risk to the customers of the hotel. Among the hotel customers, children are the ones that typically lack the mental capacity to understand the risks posed and are too often the victims. It is important that the children and all users of hotel swimming pools be protected to the fullest extent required by law. All hotels that choose to provide swimming pools for their customers need to have in place a safety plan and safety mechanisms to ensure hotel pool drownings like the ones that occurred in this story are prevented.  Failure to do so is often a sign of negligence.   

This story is one of many across the nation that demonstrates the failure of supervision and the failure to implement other safeguards for the hotel swimming pool.  It is unfortunately too often that the owners of hotels do not prioritize the safety of its swimming pool users. Year after year some facilities continue to ignore the risks presented by their aquatic activities and fail to take proper steps that could have be implemented to prevent the hotel pool drowning and save the lives of their customers.  Hotel owners and operators have a legal duty to their customers to prevent tragic deaths when they choose to facilitate a swimming pool for their hotel. Once this duty is breached by their failure to provide simple and required safety mechanisms, the owners and operators must be held liable.  This liability will ensure that the owners will correct their poor safety precautions and prevent future tragedies.

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Boy Drowns in MCM Grand Hotel Fundome Swimming Pool Accident

Posted by Jesse Guerra on October 24, 2011

Our Texas hotel drowning lawyer was saddened today to learn of the death of four-year-old Reece Mitchel at the MCM Grande Hotel in Odessa, Texas.  According to reports the accident struck this Friday night, shortly before 8 p.m.  The young child was at the hotel swimming pool with other siblings and an adult aunt.  The group was enjoying the water when one of the boy’s siblings saw Reece at the bottom of the pool.  It was clear that the child was in trouble, and he was quickly pulled from the water.  The boy’s aunt began performing CPR, and she was soon joined by several other bystanders.  Local paramedics tried to save the child’s life when they arrived but, there was little that could be done.  He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.  Local authorities are still investigating the tragic MCM Grande hotel swimming pool drowning to determine exactly what happened and whether anything could have been done to prevent it.indoor hotel pool 

Unfortunately, many hotel owners and operators fail to prioritize pool safety.  Public swimming pools, such as the one in this MCM Grande Hotel, may pose inherent dangers to those who use the facility.  Children are particularly prone to falling victim to these accidents, because they do not understand the risks.  While the details surrounding this latest accident are still being sorted out, it is important for all those involved in this accident take steps to protect their legal rights. 

Unfortunately, many of the companies who run facilities like hotels fail to follow reasonable standards steps which could prevent these accidents.  Widespread knowledge about the dangers of the water makes it vital that those in a position to enact safeguards to protect swimmers actually do so.  For one thing, it is essential that these facilities have an emergency action plan in place so that steps are taken immediately that can save the life of a child who has been involved in one of these hotel drowning accidents. Hotel guests have a reasonable expectation that certain safety steps will be in place when they use these aquatic facilities.  When a child dies in one of these accidents a thorough investigation into the situation often reveals that the pool operators did not do everything which the law usually expects to help prevent accidents and save lives once an accident has occurred.

Our Texas hotel drowning attorney at the Jesse Guerra Law Firm is familiar with the hotel owners and operators who run the facility involved in this latest accident.  Jesse Guerra Jr. has represented victims in legal actions against these MCM Grande owners on two separate occasions in the last two years.  This latest incident means that the facilities run by this organization have been the site of three deadly drownings in the last two years alone.  It is tragic that so many local children continue to lose their lives in accidents that might have been prevented.  If you or a loved one were involved in this accident or a similar hotel pool drowning, please get in touch with our experienced pool lawyer to learn how we can help.  We work with victims in Texas and throughout the nation to ensure that facility owners are held accountable for their conduct and take steps to prevent future tragedies.        

 

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Toddler Using Floatation Device Drowns in Swimming Pool

Posted by Jesse Guerra on October 05, 2011

Devices that help swimmers float are supposed to be fun and safe.  Advertisers typically depict adults relaxing on floating chairs and children happily jumping in the pool wearing inflatable bands around their arms.  But what this blissful picture does not show is the false sense of security that comes with these items.  Swimming pool accidents can occur when inexperienced swimmers rely too heavily on assistance.  One family recently experienced a terrible loss when the floats used by their two-year-old were not enough to prevent her drowning death.

The Mirror just published a story about an English family who came to visit relatives in the United States this August when disaster struck.  The family, including the two-year-old, a seven-year-old and the mother were swimming in the grandparents’ pool.  The mother walked away from the pool with the older daughter to get a drink from the kitchen.  Moments later, the grandmother found the toddler face down in the pool.  The child died soon after.  Depending on the details of this and similar situations, the family may have had legal recourse against the manufacturer of the floatation device.

Manufacturers of consumer goods are responsible for making their products as safe as possible.  Not only do the normal rules of negligence apply, but in certain circumstances, strict liability can come into play.  Under the rules of negligence, the person asserting a claim must show a duty and breach of that duty.  If the person was being as careful as possible, it is impossible to show they were negligent.  Under a strict liability standard, however, the level of care is irrelevant. beach float

Instead, to show strict liability, the plaintiff must demonstrate that the product had a manufacturing defect, a design defect, or an information defect.  In other words, if the product was designed in such a way that made it dangerous, the product was designed well but not made according to the design or not accompanied by an adequate warning, the manufacturer might be liable under this theory.  For example, if a float was designed in such a way that an unconscious child tipped forward with their face in the water instead of on their back with their face up, the family might be able to successfully sue the maker of the float in the case of a drowning accident. Or if the float was supposed to have a flap in the back to hold a child’s head above water but was made incorrectly, the manufacturer could also be held liable for a subsequent swimming pool accident.

Our Texas swimming pool accident attorney at the J. Guerra Law Firm has years of experience dealing with the aftermath of swimming pool tragedies.  He is knowledgeable about the various ways the makers of pool safety equipment can be found liable in the event that their products contribute to a swimmer’s death.  If you know someone who was injured or killed after a problem with a swimming pool apparatus, contact our pool drowning lawyer at the firm.  We can evaluate your claim and give you advice on the best way to proceed.

 

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Public Pool Found Negligent for Diving Blocks Near Shallow End

Posted by Jesse Guerra on September 27, 2011

no diving x 2.jpgPool safety encompasses a wide range of precautions.  It means adequate safety equipment to help prevent drowning.  It means monitoring water to ensure that proper chemical levels are maintained to keep disease bearing organisms from living in the water.  It also means protecting all swimmers, no matter their ability or skill.  In addition, pool safety means limiting activities to the type of water that is appropriate for them.  Or, in other words, it means ensuring that no diving occurs in the shallow end of the pool.  As our Texas swimming pool accident attorney knows, many swimming pool accidents happen when a number of things go wrong at the same time.  One recently court case examined just that scenario.

Perth Now recently published a story about a lawsuit involving a diving accident.  The accident occurred more than five years ago, but the court just ruled on the subsequent lawsuit.  At issue was a young man who became quadriplegic after diving into to the shallow end of the pool.  The accident occurred after he jumped off concrete diving blocks located at the shallow end of the pool. 

According to the court records, the blocks in question should have been removed prior to the accident.  Several years before the incident, an organization focused on swimming safety released new guidelines.  The guidelines recommended removing diving blocks from pools of that depth.  In response to the guidelines, the pool applied for funds to remove the diving blocks.  Though the pool received the money, instead of removing them, no diving signs were posted and lifeguard were instructed to inform swimmers they should not dive in that area. The young man in question did dive, and was horribly injured.

In its decision, the court noted that most swimmers who saw the eight diving platforms would have concluded that diving in the area was safe.  In addition, the man injured in this accident has cerebral palsy and poor vision and may not have realized how shallow the water was.

The collision of a swimmer with special needs and a negligently maintained public pool lead to tragic results in this case.  But the fact that the young man in question was not an average swimmer does not protect the pool owners from liability.  One basic principle of law is that you cannot pick your victim.  If a person is injured in a swimming pool accident because of their own special circumstances, the pool owner or operator is not relieved of legal responsibility.  Instead, the negligent pool owner or operator is fully responsible for any damages caused to a fragile swimmer.

At the J. Guerra Law Firm, we understand that pool owners and operators have the same duties to special needs swimmers as they do to everyone else.  Our swimming pool drowning lawyer works hard to protect the right of all swimmers who are hurt in swimming pools.  If you or someone you know is injured in a swimming pool accident, please contact us.  We can evaluate your claim and see if you have a potentially successful lawsuit.

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Water Borne Illness Strikes in Central Texas

Posted by Jesse Guerra on September 15, 2011

Blog readers are aware that swimming pool accidents often involve drownings and near drownings.  However, many other features of pools can be equally dangerous.  Often these other sources of harm are overshadowed by the fears of drowning.  Yet these a myriad of potential dangers are always present.  Wet walkways surrounding a pool can be slippery, resulting in falls.  The ongoing drought is another source of danger, causing areas around pools to contract and shift, leading to the collapse of decks and other support structures.  The chemicals used to keep pools clean can be misused, causing chemical related illnesses.  Deficient use of cleaning chemicals is another hazard.  Recently, Central Texas has experienced a rash of illnesses due to Texas contaminated swimming water.

bacteria.jpg

According to KWTX news, six new cases of the parasitic diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis were recently confirmed in Bell County.  This brings the total number of individuals sickened by the disease to 88.  At least twenty-one of the cases in Bell County are linked to the Temple’s Lions Junction Water Park.  Authorities believe that other spray parks in the area of the source of other infections.

The parasitic diarrheal disease cryptosporidiosis is not deadly, but can make those infected quite uncomfortable.  Symptoms commonly include stomach pain or cramps, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fever and weight loss.  Usually symptoms begin two to ten days after exposure and last for a week.  Occasionally some people infected with the parasite will not experience any symptoms.  Asymptomatic cases make it harder for authorities to diagnosis and discover the source.

Authorities are working hard to discover the sanctuary of the parasite so they can treat it and eliminate it.  As soon as the Temple’s Lions Junction Water Park was determined to have hosted cryptosporidiosis, the park was disinfected.  The most recent cases were not linked to that area.

Health District representatives are also working to prevent the spread of the parasite from infected individuals.  The parasite lives in the intestines of humans and animals.  It can be spread when pool water is swallowed or by contact with someone who is infected.  Health officials are visiting local school nurses to help start a campaign of hand washing.  Clean hands are one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the disease.  This is because, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an outer shell protects the parasite and makes it resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants.  Soap, however, washes the parasite off hands, making it hard to share with just a touch or handshake.

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Drought Has Potential to Cause Swimming Pool Accidents

Posted by Jesse Guerra on September 07, 2011

water pipes.jpgEveryone knows that hot weather is an essential component of a good trip to the pool.  No one wants to go swimming in cold damp weather.   But hot weather, especially the dry hot weather Texas is currently experiencing, can be bad too.  When the weather is too hot swimmers who do not take proper precautions can suffer from injuries ranging from sunburns to heat stroke.  Right now, as a result of the prolonged drought, people are not the only thing being negatively by the weather.  Pools are also suffering from the consequences of the hot dry weather.  Unfortunately, damage to pools does not always stop with property damage.  Texas swimming pool accidents can be an unfortunate but natural consequence as well.

As NBC recently reported, the intense dry, hot weather currently afflicting the state is wreaking havoc on swimming pools throughout the state.  As a result of the weather, soil, especially the clay soil found in North Texas, is shrinking.  This shrinking causes the concrete around a swimming pool to shift.  As one couple experienced, a small gap above ground can be a sign of major problems below the ground.

When concrete shrinks, it puts pressure on the pipes that bring water in and out of a pool.  This can lead to cracked pipes and thousands of dollars of damage.  Sadly, the drought is not the only thing that can harm pipes.  When it finally rains, the ground will expand again, putting pressure on different areas of the ground and pipes.  This can cause damage to areas that had been previously spared.

As a consequence of the potential for double damage to swimming pools and pipes, many home owners are waiting to repair damage. From an economic perspective, it makes sense to wait for all the damage to be over before making costly repairs.  But for swimmers, this can be dangerous, leading to Texas pool accidents.  Cracks in pipes, in addition to increasing the water bill, can result in less water in a pool.  Unless the pool water is carefully monitored, a pool owner who just adds the daily dose of chemical to his pool can add too many chemicals to not enough water. This can lead to situations that are bad for swimmers, exposing them to too much chlorine or leading to murky water conditions that make it hard for others to see and effectively rescue in the event of a potential drowning.

Even outside the pool, shifting ground can be hazardous for swimmers.  Above ground pools in particular may shift along with the ground.  In an extreme event, a deck might collapse, causing anyone using the deck to fall along with it.

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Man Dies in Swimming Pool Owned By Houston Texan Player

Posted by Jesse Guerra on September 06, 2011

Though Labor Day is traditionally the end of summer, as long as temperatures remain hot, Texans will continue to participate in summer activities.  Top on the list of outdoor summer fun is, of course, swimming.  Sadly, accidents come along with swimming.  This long Labor Day weekend was no exception.  An adult man was found dead in a swimming pool accident on Sunday.pool numbers.jpg 

As USA Today reported, rescue officials were called to the home of Houston Texans defensive end Antonio Smith when a man was found in Smith’s swimming pool.  Paramedics arrived at 9:30 am Sunday morning and found a 37-year-old man at the bottom of the pool.  He was fully clothed.  Since the man was clearly not dressed for swimming, police are conducting a full investigation.  Preliminary, officials have found no evidence of foul play.  Results from a toxicology report should be available in about three weeks.

The night before the incident, Smith hosted a large party.  Guests included several other teammates, but no coaches or members of the team staff.  The man found in the pool was not associated with the team in any way.  He was, however, a close friend of Smith’s, according to the local police chief.  The deceased had been seen by party-goers out near the pool at 2 am.  The police chief reported that it appears that he remained outside by himself.  When others woke up the next morning, they discovered his body in the pool.

This tragic Texas swimming pool accident reminds us that drowning accidents can strike anyone at any time.  While this blog has recently focused on the drowning deaths of young Texan children, adults drown in pools all too often.  And as this episode demonstrates, not even the wealthy are spared from pool accidents.

Our Texas swimming pool accident attorney at the J. Guerra Law Firm knows that drugs and alcohol, dangerous enough alone, can be deadly in combination with an unsecured and unguarded pool.  Just as a good host never allows guest to drink and drive, a good host ensures that his or his guests do not drink and swim.  It is careless, or worse, to allow inebriated guests near a pool, especially if they are alone.  Making sure that a pool is off-limits is an essential part of throwing a safe party. 

If you or a loved one is injured in a pool after a party, be sure to consult an attorney specializing in swimming pool accidents.  You may have legal rights that can only be protected by an attorney after such an accident.  Hosts owe some basic duties to their guests.  Most adults know that a pool is dangerous, but after too much drinking, that risk might not be as obvious.  Keeping fences in good repair and cordoning off the pool from the party area is good practice.  It is also critical to keep the area around the pool free from debris that might be a tripping hazard and ensuring that the area is not slippery.  Proper lighting is equally important.  Pools are dangerous and pool owners must be careful to keep their guest – especially drunk ones – away from them.

 

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String of Texas Swimming Pool Drownings Take Area Lives

Posted by Jesse Guerra on July 19, 2011

 

Many Dallas-area residents are reeling this week after a string Texas swimming pool accidents have reinforced the importance of water safety.  KDAF TV reported yesterday on the events which have affected several area families and communities.  The story centered on a memorial that was being held for a six-year old boy, Jamarion Russell, who died after drowning in a local pool last Friday.  The boy’s family reported that they turned away from watching the child for only a minute—enough time for the young child to slip under the water.

Only a few days earlier a Dallas man and his two-year old grandson were killed after drowning in a pool.  Last week also saw the deaths of a Richardson man who was receiving swimming lessons at the time.  That same week a Colleyville woman drowned in her backyard swimming pool.  These accidents are only the most recent in a long string of swimming pool, river, and lake drownings that have occurred throughout the summer in all parts of the state.

These deaths are a large part of the reason that Texas topped the list with more child pool drownings than anywhere else in the country.    One local law enforcement officer explained: “The fact that it’s so hot, people are looking for a way to cool off, refresh themselves, but above all we still have to stay safe even when we are trying to have fun.”

The first line of defense is observance of time-tested pool safety measures.  The area law enforcement officer shared tips with all swimming pool owners and operators.  He noted that life rings, Shepherd’s hooks, and emergency phones should always been handy to provide rescue if necessary.

Our Texas drowning lawyer echoes that call for clear focus on water safety.  The consequences of poor supervision and poor pool safety maintenance are far too high.  We have worked with many families who have lost young children in preventable accidents.  In most cases, a child might have been saved if the pool water was not murky, necessary safety equipment was available nearby, and if proper fencing, locks, and alarms had been installed.  The sad truth is that virtually all of these tragedies could have been prevented. 

All local families should do everything in their power to prevent Texas pool drownings.  If an accident does occur, it is vital to contact proper legal representatives to share your story and learn how the law applies to these situations.  

 

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Posted by Jesse Guerra on July 18, 2011

Caller News reported this weekend on the importance of swimming pool safety.  Our Texas swimming accident attorney—Jesse Guerra Jr.—was interviewed in the story as an expert in pool safety.  He explained that “nobody is drown proof” and so it remains important for all parents to inspect pools before they allow their children to use them.  Through his years advocating on behalf of victims of drowning he has uncovered that many of these accident could have been prevented.

Proper supervision is always a crucial component of water safety. That includes understanding how strong of a swimmer a child is and recognizing what they can and cannot handle in the water.  Beyond that, proper pool inspections are also a central part of aquatic safety.  Murky water is perhaps the most important indicator that a pool is unsafe.  If a parent standing on the edge of the pool cannot see the drain and the bottom of the deepest part of the pool, then they should not allow their child to swim.  Cloudy water is a visibility barrier that can prevent parents from seeing or rescuing a child on the bottom.

pool-safety.jpgOther safety protocols should also be observed by those who manage swimming pools—particularly public pools and those used in hotels, apartment complexes, and water parks.  Proper drain covers needs to be installed to protect children from their powerful suction.  Federal laws mandate proper drain covers in most public pools.  Pool and spa covers should have locks installed and need to be completely removed when not in use.  Additionally, all pools should be fenced (at least 4 feet high) with working locks to prevent wandering children from stumbling upon the water unsupervised.  It is well-known that swimming pools are magnets for youngsters who are unable to understand the risks.  The U.S. government’s pool safety website is a good starting point to begin learning about pool safety.  The information is available in both English and Spanish.

Following basic safety measures will go a long way to prevent the tragic Texas swimming pool drownings that continue to strike.  Already this year 61 children have drowned in Texas pools—over 10% more than at this same time last year.  Parents, pool owners, and operators must step up the effort to ensure that the trend is reversed. 

Our Texas drowning lawyer is working to raise awareness of the risks throughout the community.  Mr. Guerra recently hosted the first annual Corpus Christi Pool Safely Day.  The event attracted more than 400 children and parents and was held to promote water safety.  Guerra’s Firm donated two bicycles, seventeen life jackets, and free swimming lessons while the event was held.  Any child who watched the 6 minute Pool Safely video on pool safety was eligible to win the bikes.  

The event was held in conjunction with City of Corpus Christi, Aquatics Director Michael Smith and Jesse Guerra, founder of our nationwide drowning law firm that handles drowning cases from coast to coast.  When asked why the event was held, the sponsors of the event mutually expressed the desire to bring pool safety to the forefront of children, parents, and pool owners/operators.  Drowning is the number one cause of death for children five and under.

 

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