In the last nine months there have been nine reported serious incidents at Minnesota swimming pools or water parks, where people became ill, were injured or died. (Read more about Minnesota swimming pool injuries and the deaths.) As a result, the Minnesota Department of Health is urging those who use swimming pools, including parents of young children, to protect their own health and safety when swimming:

• If the water is cloudy, do not go in the pool; report it to the pool operator.
• If you have been ill with diarrhea in the last two weeks, do not go in the pool.
• Do not allow children who have been ill with diarrhea or vomiting in the last two weeks to swim.
• Avoid swallowing pool water.
• Follow all other posted pool rules, which include bathing/showering before entering the pool.
• Do not drink and swim; people who are intoxicated should not be in the pool area.
• Keep an eye on your child at all times.
• Take your kids on frequent bathroom breaks.
  

“Swimming is good physical activity, and we want people to continue, but we need everyone to observe pool rules so that everyone can swim safely,” said John Linc Stine, director of environmental health for MDH.

In June of 2007, Abigail Taylor suffered serious injuries at the Minneapolis Golf Club pool in St. Louis Park that eventually led to her death. The six-year old was injured when she sat on an open drain in the wading pool; the heavy suction at the drain caused her intestinal tract to be partially removed.

Last summer, following the accident, Minnesota Department of Health issued a safety warning to licensed pool owners/operators in the state urging them to make sure drain covers were fitted and secured properly and to check them daily. In light of the serious risk that is posed to children, our lawyers suggest that parents ask pool managers if the pool drain covers are fitted and secured properly and when the pool drain covers were last checked.

More information on pool safety can be found at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/pools/poolincidents.html.

For questions regarding injury, death or illness resulting from a swimming pool incident, please contact a lawyer at PritzkerOlsen.

Labels: Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota lawyer, swimming pool safety