On scorching summer days, one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to entertain and cool off your family is to set up a Slip’N Slide or a kiddie pool in your backyard. But just like any activity that involves water, these popular summer pastimes can be highly dangerous if proper safety procedures are not followed. With this in mind, we urge you to follow these tips from our Bucks County severe injury attorney whenever your family participates in backyard water activities:
- Eliminate hazards from the area – Before setting up a kiddie pool or Slip’N Slide, clear the ground of tripping and injury hazards such as sticks, rocks and other sharp items. Also be sure to remove objects from the area within a few feet of the pool or Slip’N Slide – kids will be walking and running here, most likely without shoes.
- Supervise children at all times – While you may be tempted to take some time for yourself while your kids are splashing around, leaving them without adult supervision is highly unadvisable. Even if it’s only a few inches deep, the water in a kiddie pool or the water that collects at the end of a Slip’N Slide can pose a drowning risk for kids. Plus, if an adult isn’t around, children may be tempted to engage in reckless behavior that can easily result in injury. For these reasons, you should never let kids participate in backyard water activities without a trustworthy adult around to watch them.
- Dry and store your kiddie pool or Slip’N Slide after each use – Going along with the last tip, you should always empty the water out of your kiddie pool or Slip’N Slide and put it away when your family is done enjoying it. By doing so, you’ll ensure that your kids and other children in the neighborhood can’t use it when no one is watching, thereby preventing accidents.
- Keep in mind that Slip’N Slides are not made for teens and adults – Have you ever noticed that the Slip’N Slide box states that the product is for use by children only? This warning shouldn’t be taken lightly – over the years, there have been several cases of teens and adults suffering severe neck injuries or even paralysis after stopping suddenly on a Slip’N Slide because they were too tall or heavy for the toy. Therefore, our severe injury attorney in Bucks County highly recommends leaving this activity to the kids!
It is our hope that these tips will help you to protect your family against accidents and injuries this summer. For more seasonal safety advice, check out our blog post on choosing a safe summer camp for your kids.
Severe Injury? Trust Us to Represent Your Family
Unfortunately, when your kids use a Slip’N Slide or a kiddie pool somewhere other than in your backyard, such as at a camp or another person’s house, there’s no guarantee that those in charge will follow the safety rules we’ve laid out in this post. If your child sustains injuries due to someone else’s negligence, you can rely on the Heslin Law Firm to help you prove that the negligent party is at fault and collect the compensation you are owed.
To discuss your case with a severe injury lawyer Bucks County families depend on, call the Heslin Law Firm at (215) 332-0300. We’re always here to answer any legal questions you may have.