Christian Cruz, 8, died after a swimming pool accident a few days after he was found unresponsive in a backyard pool. According to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Christian was found the evening of August 18, 2010 in a pool in the 1600 block of Elma Privado in Ontario. His mother and another adult had already begun administering CPR when firefighters arrived at the home. Officials say Christian was in the water only briefly. He was transported to a regional hospital, but died from his injuries about four days later.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Christian Cruz for what they are going through at this time. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

According to statistics released in May 2010 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), from 2005 to 2007, there was an annual average of 385 pool and spa-related drowning incidents for children younger than 15. About 78 percent of these children were younger than 5. From 2007 to 2009, there were 4,200 incidents involving emergency department-treated drowning and near drowning incidents in the country for children under the age of 15.

Also, about 54 percent of the estimated injuries from 2007 to 2009 and 74 percent of swimming pool deaths involving children under 15 occurred at a residence. Near-drowning incidents can also be extremely serious and result in catastrophic brain injuries.

Safety and Liability Issues

This swimming pool accident is a sad reminder to all of us that it is not just young children such as infants or toddlers who are at risk in the pool, but also older children. Irrespective of your child's age or his or her proficiency as a swimmer, it is critical for parents to supervise their children in a pool. As this tragic incident shows, it doesn't take too long for a child to slip under the water and suffer a silent death. It could happen within seconds.

If a visiting child is injured or killed in your backyard swimming pool, you could be held liable for the accident and resulting injuries. If you are having a pool party, insist that the parents stay to supervise their children. Otherwise, if you are able to, hire a certified lifeguard who will keep a watch during the party. If your child has been injured in a swimming pool accident as a result of someone else's negligence, please contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer to get more information about your legal rights and options.

Do you supervise your children at all times when they are in the swimming pool?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.