Because drowning is the leading cause of death of young children in Florida and is additionally a significant cause of death for the medically frail elderly, the Florida Legislature adopted and passed the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act. Nearly three (3) children die every day nationwide as the result of a drowning accident. The Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act, which can be found in Chapter 515, Florida Statutes, was created with the sole purpose of requiring owners of residential swimming pools to significantly enhance and improve safety measures to prevent an accidental drowning. A Tampa Swimming Pool Injury Attorney can assist in ensuring the pool owner adhered to Florida law governing the ownership of a residential swimming pool.

Did you know that once a licensed pool contractor enters into an agreement with a buyer to build a residential swimming pool, or a licensed home builder or developer, upon entering into an agreement with a buyer to build a house that includes a residential swimming pool, is required to provide the buyer with a document that contains all of the requirements of the Residential Swimming Pool safety Act? Before a residential swimming pool can pass inspection and obtain a certificate of completion, the pool must meet at least one (1) of the following:

1. The pool must be isolated from access to a home by an enclosure that meets the pool barrier requirements listed in Section 515.29, Florida Statutes;
2. The pool must be equipped with an approved safety pool cover;
3. All doors and windows providing direct access from the home to the pool must be equipped with an exit alarm that has a minimum sound pressure rating of 85 dB A at 10 feet; or
4. All doors providing direct access from the home to the pool must be equipped with a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor.

Any person who fails to equip a new residential swimming pool with at least one (1) pool safety feature as required by the Residential Swimming Pool Safety Act commits a second degree misdemeanor.We hope posting this basic information will assist in ensuring and maintaining your little one's safety.Should you have any questions regarding swimming pool injuries and/or safety, please contact us, your Tampa Personal Injury Attorney.