August is peak season for pool parties, lake trips, and beach days. It's also, unfortunately, one of the most dangerous months of the year when it comes to water-related accidents. Every year in the United States, there are over 4,000 unintentional drowning deaths.
That's the sobering reality. The good news is that most drownings are preventable, and knowing both your safety options and your insurance coverage can make a real difference.
If You Have a Pool at Home
Backyard pools are one of summer's greatest joys, but they come with real responsibility. A pool is considered an "attractive nuisance" by the insurance industry, meaning your liability risk increases simply by having one.
Your homeowners policy does provide some protection. Personal liability coverage on a standard homeowners policy pays for medical bills and legal defense costs if a guest is injured in or around your pool. However, your insurer may deny a claim if you failed to meet safety requirements, such as installing a fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
Pool owners should consider increasing the liability portion of their homeowners policy to at least $300,000 to $500,000 or more if their assets warrant it. An umbrella liability policy can provide an additional layer of protection beyond your standard homeowners policy limits.
Water Safety Tips for Everyone
You don't need to own a pool to face water safety risks this summer. Whether you're at a local pool, a lake, or the beach, these tips apply to everyone:
- Actively supervise children at all times. A child or weak swimmer can drown in the time it takes to reply to a text, check a fishing line, or apply sunscreen.
- Never swim alone, regardless of age or skill level.
- Skip the "floaties" and arm bands. They do not prevent drowning and can create a false sense of safety. A U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket is far more protective.
- About 40% of drowning deaths among children ages 5 to 14 occur in natural water, and more than half of fatal drownings among people 15 and older occur in lakes, rivers, or oceans. Wear properly fitted life jackets in and around natural water, not just while boating.
- Limit alcohol around the water. The CDC reports that alcohol use is involved in up to half of adolescent and adult deaths associated with water recreation.
- Learn CPR. Performing CPR can save a life in the time it takes for paramedics to arrive.
- Build a four-sided fence at least four feet high around your home pool with a self-closing, self-latching gate, and remove all toys from the pool when not in use.
Summer water activities should be fun and worry-free. A quick review of your coverage and a few simple safety steps can go a long way toward keeping it that way. If you have any questions, we are happy to help.
