Officials in Riverside County are investigating a swimming pool accident in Hemet, California, which killed 2-year-old Aden Sanborn the afternoon of August 3, 2009. According to a CBS news report, Aden was found in a backyard pool at a home in the 30000 block of Apricot Avenue. He was found to be not breathing. Emergency personnel performed CPR on the boy and rushed him to the hospital, but could not save him.

My heart goes out to the parents, family and friends of Aden Sanborn for their tragic, heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this little boy.

Swimming Pool Accident Statistics

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, in 2005, there were 3,582 unintentional fatal drownings in the United States. About 25 percent of these fatalities involved young children--14 or younger. Four times as many children get emergency care for nonfatal injuries for every child who dies. In 2005, of all children aged 1 to 4 who died in the United States, 30 percent died from drowning. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention, in 2006, drowning was only second to car accidents as the most common cause of death in children aged 1 to 14.

This summer has been disastrous as far as swimming pool accidents are concerned in Southern California. There have been several near drowning incidents reported in Orange and Los Angeles counties that involved severe brain injury and other critical injuries. Most of these incidents involve young children, many of them toddlers.

Swimming Pool Accidents are Preventable

The tragic aspect of these swimming pool accidents is that they are entirely preventable. Swimming pool accidents can pose serious liability issues for a homeowner. If a neighbor's child or acquaintance's child is visiting or if you are caring for a child and he or she drowns in your swimming pool because there was no gate or the gate was unlocked, you could be held liable. If your child has been injured or has drowned in a swimming pool accident in a day camp, club or a neighbor's backyard pool, please understand that you have rights. Please contact an experienced California personal injury lawyer who has a successful track record handling swimming pool accident cases. If you have a backyard pool, please make sure it is fenced or gated and locked all the time. If you invite children to your home, please make sure they are under constant supervision while in the water. Please be safe this summer.

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