游泳池責任：溺水和人身傷害

美國加州警方稱，一名中國交換生6日在加州的寄宿家庭游泳池中溺水身亡。周三(6日)晚，警方與醫務人員被叫到這戶寄宿家庭，對這名16歲男孩進行心髒復蘇術緊急處理。這名男生病情危急，被送到醫院，但在抵達醫院不久後去世。該男孩姓名未對外透露。這名少年與另外幾人在這個有門禁的游泳池游泳，在到達深水區時開始掙紮。隨後在這戶寄宿家庭的數人將男生救上岸。
 
游泳池責任：溺水和人身傷害 
 
購買泳池前，業主必須知道與游泳池所有權相關的風險和責任。對於大多數人來說，擁有一個游泳池可能意味?將面臨針對個人財產最大的財務和法律風險，如果游泳池的擁有者掉以輕心，很可能將面臨嚴重的人身傷害或過失致人死亡的罪名。 
 
關於溺水和游泳池誤區 
 
大多數人有一個錯誤觀念，認為游泳池是安全的，除非有人搞惡作劇，泳池濫用，或因喝醉酒在游泳池嬉戲等等活動才會造成風險，然而大多數的游泳池溺水意外並非因此而產生。
 
不幸的是，無人看管的兒童往往是溺水和游泳池事故的受害者。 （我們的律師事務所有第一手的經驗與這些類型的案件。）很多時候，只因接聽電話，或使用洗手間的時候，一個孩子就可能因此失足並落入游泳池。溺水可發生非常快，而且經常發生得非常安靜。人在水中大聲呼救，這是最常出現在電影當中的;然而，這是很少發生的情況。大多數溺水的人都是迅速並無聲地被淹沒在水底下，並沒有機會呼救幫助。 
    
房主和父母如何保護兒童和其他人不小心溺水？ 
 
防止意外溺水等人身傷害是游泳池擁有者的全職工作，需要在任何時候都始終保持密切的監督。然而，只是監管是不夠的。 
 
其中最危險的時刻是沒有人在游泳池的時候。這意味著，1）游泳池是否有被監督，以及2）一個人，最有可能的一個孩子，未經您的同意後可以自行到泳池區。那麼，你如何保護自己免受這種責任和防止加大他人的風險？ 
 
當你不使用你的游泳池的時候，您必須安裝型圍欄或帶鎖的門，也可以將游泳池遮蓋住，並安裝警報器提醒業主，當有人接近游泳池會有警報發出。未如若不能遵循這些步驟，則可能給房主帶來意想不到的悲慘後果和麻煩。 
 
游泳池擁有人的法律責任
 
游泳池的擁有人有責任為無論是孩童還是周邊居住的鄰居，提供一個安全的泳池環境。房主還有責任主動預防可能發生的意外。對於一些房主，這是一種負擔，他們不想承擔，這就是為什麼一些房主選擇不要游泳池的原因。然而，對於那些家中有游泳池的人，下面的列表可以幫助屋主減少事故責任的具體方法： 

● 確保兒童和成人在有監管的情況下使用游泳池。 
● 切勿讓池無人值守。 
● 完成使用泳池時，清除所有泳池玩具，防止孩子們因此跌入游泳池。 
● 要求來訪的客人看好他們的孩子。 
● 不要讓醉酒的人使用游泳池。 
● 確保附近有救生設備，並處於良好使用狀態。 
● 不要依靠漂浮設備幫助溺水的人。 
● 確保你有相應的保險，包括可能發生的任何意外。（一百萬美元是最低的建議。） 
● 千萬不要相信張貼警示標誌，如“游泳責任自負”之類的標籤可以保護您免受訴訟。如果有人受傷，或溺水在你的游泳池，則將很有可能向您提起索賠，不管是什麼類型的標誌被張貼。 

結語： 
 
業主有完全責任保證自己泳池的安全性。如果房主有一個游泳池，沒有採取足夠的措施，以防止不必要的或不受管轄的個人，接觸到游泳池，一旦發生意外，屋主將為事故承擔責任。
 
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Swimming Pool Liability: Drowning and Personal Injury   

 
Before purchasing a swimming pool, homeowners must know the risks and responsibilities associated with pool ownership.  For most people, owning a swimming pool may represent the greatest amount of financial and legal risk they ever take with regard to their personal property, and if swimming pool ownership responsibilities are taken lightly, a serious personal injury or wrongful death can be the end result.  Misconceptions about drowning and swimming pools
 
Most people have a false belief that pools are safe unless someone is engaging in horseplay, misuse of the pool, or swimming while intoxicated, etc.  While these activites certainly create a hazardous risk, most accidental drowning cases occur when the pool is not being actively used.  
 
Unfortunately, unsupervised children are often victims of drowning and swimming pool accidents. (Our law firm has first-hand experience with these types of cases, and they are tragic.) In the time that it takes an individual to answer the phone or use the bathroom, a child can rapidly wander away and fall into a swimming pool.  Drowning can occur very quickly and often happens very quietly.  Visions of people flailing around in the water and screaming for help are most often seen in movies; however, this is rarely what happens.  Most people who drown slip beneath the water quickly and quietly and don't have the chance to yell or motion for help.      How do homeowners and parents protect children and others from accidentally drowning?  
 
Preventing accidental drownings and other personal injury from occuring at your pool is a full-time job.  And it starts with constant and close supervision of pool occupants (especially children) at all times.  However, supervision is not enough on its own.  
 
One of the most dangerous siutations arises when no one is in the pool.  This means that 1) the pool is not likely being supervised, and 2) someone, most likely a child, can wander into the pool area without your consent or knowledge.  So how do you protect yourself from this liability and prevent others from risk?
 
For the times when you are not using your pool, you must install a type of fence or gate that latches and locks, a pool cover that can be latched or secured, and an alarm that alerts the owners when there is movement near or in the pool.  Failing to follow these steps could mean trouble for the homeowner and tragic consequencesfor the person or child in the pool. 
 
Specifically: 

● Gates and fencing should completely surround the pool and be at least 4 feet high.
● The gates should be self-closing, and the latches on the gates should be high enough that a child cannot reach the latch.
● Install and use a pool cover that can be secured and used whenever the pool is not in use.
● Make sure that members of the household know CPR and that rescue equipment is in good working order and kept near the pool.
● If a child goes missing; check the pool first.
● Install a pool alarm that can alert the pool owner when the surface of the water has been disrupted.

A Poolowner's Legal Liability and Accountability
 
No matter what you have heard or been told before, the owner of the pool is the person responsible for providing a safe environment for both children and adults who use the pool, as well as for people who live near the pool.  The homeowner is also responsible for being pro-active in accident prevention.  For some homeowners, this is a burden and responsibility that they do not want to shoulder, and sometimes why a homeowner chooses not to have a pool.  However, for those that do, the following list explains how the homeowner can help reduce accident liability:

● Make sure that both children and adults use the pool supervised.
● Never allow the pool to be unattended if it is accessible.
● When done using the pool, clear out all pool toys so that children are not tempted by them.
● Require that guests supervise their children when visiting.
● Do not allow an intoxicated person to use the pool.
● Make sure that life saving devices are kept nearby and in good condition.
● Never rely on floatation devices to protect individuals using the pool from drowning.
● Make sure that the insurance policy you have on your home includes coverage for any possible accidents that could occur in regards to the pool.  $1 million is the recommended minimum.
● Never rely on posted warning signs such as “Swim At Your Own Risk” or something similar to protect you against a lawsuit.  If someone is injured or drowns in your pool, it's very possible that a claim will be filed against you, no matter what type of sign was posted.

The bottom line: 
 
Property owners are responsibile for keeping their pool secure.  If a homeowner has a pool and does not take adequate measures to prevent unwanted or unsupervised individuals from gaining access to the pool, they can end up assuming liability if an accident occurs.
 

Law Offices ofPaul P. Cheng & Associates
Professional Law Corporation - Built on Integrity & Dignity
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