Drain Entrapment of Usher's Son Provides a Reminder of Potential Danger of Swimming Pools

The near drowning of the 5-year-old son of the rapper Usher last year serves as an important reminder of the potential danger posed to small children who are in the vicinity of swimming pools.  The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported that the boy was in the care of a relative when he became entrapped in the pool drain.  The relative along with three other people were able to extricate Usher’s son from the force of the suction.  A contract worker on the premises who helped free the boy from the drain was able to administer CPR and revive the boy according to the AJC report.

The drain entrapment accident has resulted in a widely publicized custody dispute between Usher and the mother of the boy Tameka Raymond.  Raymond has filed for temporary physical and legal custody based on the allegation that the swimming pool accident occurred because Usher travels for work and must leave the child in the custody of others approximately 85 percent of the time according to the motion filed in the Fulton County court by Raymond according to the AJC.   Ironically and tragically, Raymond suffered the water-related loss of a child less than a year ago when her son died following a Lake Lanier boating accident.

Although it is not clear whether a lack of adult supervision played a role in this particular near drowning accident, close adult supervision is one of the most effective means of protecting young children from swimming pool hazards, such as drain entrapment.  These types of swimming pool and spa accidents can result in disembowelment, evisceration, traumatic brain injuries and fatalities.

While small children are most susceptible to being entrapped by the drain of a pool or jacuzzi, these accidents also cause injury and wrongful death to others.  Prominent examples of swimming pool entrapment accidents include:

• A 16-year-old girl drowned who was entrapped in a spa drain the night of her prom.
• A 22-year-old lifeguard who died when his leg got trapped in the drain at a public pool.
•  6-year-old girl who was disemboweled when the force of suction from a spa drain pulled her intestines from her body.

One reason swimming pool and spa drain entrapment accidents occur is that many parents are unaware of the potential danger until their child becomes entrapped.  At Montlick and Associates, we are committed to protecting kids through the use of public service campaigns that provide information regarding precautions to keep kids safe.  Some of these public service campaigns include our Family Safety, our Help Keep Kids Safe , and our Child Passenger Safety Program to name a few (for more information visit Montlick.com and click on "community service.".  We urge parents to be extremely vigilant when kids are near a swimming pool and spa and to always keep pools secured with appropriate fences and locked gates.

If your or someone close to you has been injured in a swimming pool accident, our Atlanta personal injury lawyers at Montlick and Associates are available to provide effective legal representation to those throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state.  No matter where you are located our attorneys are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333).  You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.