Jesse Munoz, an 8-year-old boy, died in a swimming pool accident in a Morro Bay's Best Western El Rancho Hotel the evening of June 27, 2009, according to a KCOY news report. Jesse was apparently swimming in the pool and was found not breathing. He was rushed to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police believe that the death was accidental.

My heart goes out to the family of young Jesse Munoz. I offer my deepest sympathies to them during this difficult time. Please keep them in your prayers.

In the state of California, swimming pool accidents and drowning is the leading cause of death among children age 14 and under, according to statistics provided by the Orange County Fire Authority. In Southern California, especially, the number of swimming pool accidents is high throughout the year because of year-round good weather. The number of drowning incidents and near-drowning incidents, however, peaks during the summer.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) a child can drown in the time it takes to answer a phone. Another important fact presented by the Drowning Prevention Foundation is that 19 percent of drowning deaths involving children occur in public pools with certified lifeguards present. Older children are definitely not immune to these swimming pool accidents. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under five and adolescents/young adults between ages of 15 and 24 have the highest drowning rates. Also for every child who drowns, four are hospitalized for near-drowning. An estimated 5,000 children ages 14 and under are hospitalized because of near-drowning each year in the United States, of which 15 percent die in the hospital and about 20 percent suffer severe permanent brain damage.

It is important to find out how and why this Morro Bay hotel swimming pool accident occurred. Was the child, Jesse Munoz, supervised at the time? Was there a certified lifeguard present? Was Jesse entrusted to the care of someone? Was he part of a camp or daycare program? Who was he there with? If he was entrusted to someone's care at the time of the incident, then that person or entity could be held liable for the accident and resulting fatal injuries. Experienced California personal injury lawyers will be able to determine whether there was negligence involved in this incident and who should be held accountable.

This tragic fatal drowning is yet another reminder for us to constantly supervise our children when they are in the water. Even a moment's inattention could result in irreparable tragedy. Please stay safe and keep your children safe this summer.