Last week, a three year old boy tragically drowned in a backyard pool in Homer Glen. According to reports, the child was first reported missing from a home where he was staying. Shortly thereafter, he was found in a pool of a different house on the block. The boy was pronounced dead at Silver Cross Hospital.
This type of tragedy is far too common considering that it is largely preventable. In this instance, police say the pool was gated but may have been left open on the night before the accident. Had the gate not been carelessly left open, the child might still be alive today.
Backyard pools are particularly dangerous to young children. For one, children can easily be drawn to these pools and cannot be expected to appreciate their dangers. Also, unlike public pools, backyard pools are largely unsupervised. Therefore, children are much more likely to drown once they wind up in a pool.
Because of these risks, homeowners with pools must be more vigilant in securing their pools. This is even more important in situations where the homeowner is aware of young children living nearby. As a personal injury attorney in Chicago, I believe these devastating tragedies can and must be prevented. I hope this accident causes homeowners with pools to be more cautious when it comes to securing their pools.
