Drowning Accidents in Portland, Oregon: Causes, Liability, and Key Steps to Take

Drowning Accidents in Portland, Oregon: Causes, Liability, and Key Steps to Take

Drowning is a tragic and all-too-common accident, even in a city like Portland with its many rivers, lakes, and pools. In fact, the Willamette and Columbia Rivers around Portland have seen dozens of drowning victims annually – an average of 36 bodies a year are recovered from these waters. Nationally, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children aged 1–4. These sobering facts highlight why it’s so important to understand how drowning incidents happen, who may be legally liable, and what to do if you or someone you love experiences a drowning or near-drowning. This post will cover the common causes of drowning accidents, the high-risk environments in Portland, key legal liability issues to be aware of, immediate steps to take after a drowning, and when it makes sense to contact a Portland drowning lawyer for help. Throughout, we’ll maintain a serious and informative tone to provide clear guidance for families dealing with these traumatic incidents or looking to prevent them.

Common Causes of Drowning Accidents

Drowning accidents often result from a combination of factors. Understanding these common causes can help in both preventing tragedies and identifying negligence if an accident occurs. Some frequent causes include:

• Lack of Supervision (Unsupervised Swimming): In many cases, especially with children, there is no responsible person actively watching the swimmer. The vast majority of child drowning fatalities are due to poor supervision. A child can slip underwater silently in seconds if left alone by a distracted caregiver or if they wander into a pool area unsupervised. Even adults can drown quickly if swimming alone without anyone to assist in an emergency.
• Alcohol or Impairment: Alcohol and water can be a deadly mix. Impaired judgment and slow reflexes lead to accidents in pools and open water. Many people who drown – particularly in boating or swimming incidents – have been drinking alcohol. Intoxication can cause even strong swimmers to misjudge risks or lose consciousness in the water.
• Boating Incidents and Lack of Life Jackets: Boating accidents (capsizing, falling overboard, collisions) are a significant cause of drownings. A key factor is the failure to wear life jackets. 85–90% of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident. Operator inexperience or reckless behavior (like speeding or navigating hazardous waters) also contribute to boating-related drownings. In Oregon, roughly 18% of recreational boating fatalities involve alcohol or drugs, compounding the danger.
• Lack of Barriers and Fencing: Swimming pools that are not secured by fences or gates pose a high risk, particularly for young children who might wander in. Proper barriers can prevent unsupervised access to water. In fact, the CDC identifies lack of pool fencing as a major contributing factor in drownings alongside lack of supervision. Portland requires that any pool deeper than 24 inches be enclosed by a fence at least 4 feet high with a self-latching gate. When pool owners don’t follow these safety measures, tragedies can happen.
• Defective or Unsafe Equipment: Sometimes the cause is not human error but faulty equipment. Examples include defective pool drains or pumps that trap swimmers, malfunctioning pool alarms, or improperly installed diving boards and ladders. Even life-saving equipment can fail – for instance, a faulty personal flotation device (life jacket) that doesn’t provide buoyancy. If a critical piece of safety equipment breaks or a pool’s design is unsafe, a drowning or serious injury can occur through no fault of the swimmer. Pool electrocutions (from lights or wiring) and boat equipment failures also fall into this category.

These causes often overlap. For example, an intoxicated adult might swim in a river without a life jacket, or a small child might gain access to a neighbor’s unfenced pool without supervision. Understanding the cause is not only important for prevention – it’s also key in determining who might be liable for the accident, which we’ll discuss shortly.

Community initiatives like life jacket loaner programs highlight the importance of wearing proper safety gear. In many drowning cases, victims were not wearing lifejackets or other flotation devices, which could have saved their lives. Portland and Oregon authorities have even set up life jacket loaner stations to encourage water safety, especially on rivers and lakes. Such measures help address one of the common causes of drownings: lack of safety equipment and preparation. Always use appropriate flotation devices and ensure any watercraft has enough lifejackets for everyone on board.

High-Risk Environments in Portland for Drowning

Portland’s geography and lifestyle mean there are several environments where drowning accidents are more likely. Knowing these high-risk locations can encourage extra caution:

• Rivers and Streams: Portland is bisected by the Willamette River and bordered by the mighty Columbia River, with many smaller rivers (Clackamas, Sandy) nearby. These natural waters are beautiful but can be dangerous. Most drowning incidents in Oregon occur on rivers or in the Pacific Ocean surf zone, and Portland’s rivers are no exception. Hazards include strong currents, cold temperatures even on hot days, and hidden drop-offs. Cold water shock can incapacitate swimmers – even strong swimmers can gasp involuntarily or have their muscles seize in chilly water. Popular swimming spots on the Willamette and local rivers often have no lifeguards on duty, so a misstep or fatigue can quickly turn fatal if no one is around to help. Always use caution, wear a life jacket when boating or tubing, and avoid these waters if you’ve been drinking.
• Lakes and Swimming Holes: The Portland area has numerous lakes and reservoirs (like Henry Hagg Lake, Blue Lake, etc.) and natural swimming holes. These spots can seem calmer than rivers, but they present their own risks: deep areas with cold water, limited visibility, and often no on-site supervision. If a swimmer goes under in a lake, it may be difficult for others to locate and rescue them in time. Remote locations also mean slower emergency response. Always swim with a buddy and in designated areas if possible. Be mindful that men make up almost 90% of drowning victims in open water partly due to overestimating their abilities and not wearing life vests.
• Public Pools and Water Parks: Portland has many community pools and a few water parks. While these are controlled environments, accidents can still happen – from drownings to near-drownings and other injuries. Crowded pools can make it hard for lifeguards to spot a person in distress. If lifeguards or staff are negligent (e.g. not paying attention or if the pool is missing safety equipment), a swimmer could submerge without quick rescue. Oregon law requires lifeguards at all Portland public pools and mandates safety measures like life hooks, buoy rings, and an emergency action plan on site. All public pools must also have a phone for 911 and even an automated external defibrillator (AED) and oxygen ready. When those safeguards fail or are absent, the environment becomes much more dangerous. For your safety, always obey pool rules, and never assume “someone else is watching” – keep an eye on friends and family, especially kids, even if lifeguards are present.
• Home Pools and Hot Tubs: Residential pools (including apartment complex pools or hotel pools) are a common site of drownings, particularly for children. A backyard pool without a proper fence or locked gate is an “attractive nuisance” – meaning it can lure neighborhood children who don’t understand the danger. Sadly, toddlers can and do wander into unfenced or open pools and drown. Even when families are present, a lapse of a few minutes where a child isn’t supervised near water can be catastrophic. Lack of barriers, lack of supervision, and even defective pool equipment (like a broken drain cover or slippery surfaces) frequently lead to liability for pool owners. Hot tubs also pose risks, especially if someone (child or adult) becomes unconscious due to overheating or intoxication and slips under the water. Portland homeowners with pools are required to follow strict fence and gate regulations for this very reason. If you rent a home with a pool, ensure your landlord has provided proper fencing and safety measures – and always watch children closely around any home water feature.
• Bathtubs (Especially in Rental Properties or Homes with Children): It may surprise some, but bathtubs are a significant drowning hazard for infants and very young children. Nationwide, most infants who drown do so in bathtubs. It only takes a few inches of water for a baby to drown if left unattended, even for a moment. This risk extends to disabled or elderly individuals as well, who might not be able to get out of the tub if they slip under. In a rental property scenario, there could be added factors like a bathtub without proper anti-slip mats or a bathroom door that doesn’t lock (allowing a toddler to wander in). Landlords have a responsibility to maintain safe conditions – while a bathtub itself is a normal fixture, failing to fix a known issue (like a faulty drain that leads to an overflow or not addressing a request for safety bars) could be considered negligence in rare cases. Practically speaking, the best prevention is vigilant supervision: never leave young children alone in a bath, not even for a minute. If you use an infant bath seat or similar device, remember they are not foolproof and can tip over. Always keep the environment as safe as possible (e.g., empty buckets, bathtubs and kiddie pools immediately after use) and ensure caregivers in a home are aware of the drowning risks in everyday settings.

By recognizing these high-risk environments, Portland residents can take appropriate precautions – such as using life jackets on rivers, enforcing pool rules, installing proper barriers, and closely supervising bath time for children. Unfortunately, even with precautions, accidents can and do happen. When they do, it’s important to understand who may be legally at fault.

Legal Liability for Drowning Accidents

Drowning accidents often raise questions of legal responsibility. If a drowning or near-drowning occurs due to someone else’s negligence or a safety lapse, the injured person (or the family in a fatal case) may have grounds for a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Here are some common legal liability issues in drowning cases:

• Negligence of Supervisors or Caregivers: Anyone entrusted with supervising swimmers can be held liable if their carelessness leads to a drowning. This could be a lifeguard who wasn’t attentive, a boat operator who failed to follow safety rules, or a babysitter/parent who left a small child alone near water. For example, lifeguards at a public pool or beach might be considered negligent if they were distracted (texting, socializing) or abandoned their post and someone drowned as a result. Similarly, if a boat captain doesn’t ensure everyone is wearing life vests or pilots the boat recklessly, they may be liable for any resulting drowning. In the case of children, the law expects caregivers to exercise extreme caution – leaving a toddler unattended by a pool or in a bathtub can be considered negligence if injury results.
• Premises Liability (Property Owners): Property owners have a duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for guests. This applies to homeowners with pools, landlords of rental properties with water features, hotels with pools, and even government entities managing public swim areas. If a drowning occurs due to a hazardous condition on someone’s property, the owner could be liable under premises liability law. Common examples include: a pool without required fencing or locked gates, a pool with no warning signs or depth markers, inadequate lighting around a pool leading to a fall, slippery decks without slip-resistant surfacing, or cloudy water that prevents seeing someone in distress. Owners of public pools in Oregon are required to follow specific safety regulations (having lifeguards, safety equipment, emergency plans, etc.), and failure to meet those standards can make the operator legally liable for a drowning. For private pool owners, simply having a fence might not absolve liability – if they knew people were using the pool and didn’t take other precautions or if the gate was left open, they could still be on the hook. The attractive nuisance doctrine often comes into play with pools: because a swimming pool naturally attracts children, owners must take extra care to secure it. If a homeowner fails to lock or fence a pool and a child trespasser drowns, the owner may be liable despite the child not having permission to be there. In rental properties, a landlord might be liable if they didn’t comply with safety codes (for instance, not installing a fence or failing to repair a known pool hazard) and that failure led to a drowning.
• Product Liability (Defective Products): Sometimes a drowning is caused or worsened by a product defect. In such cases, the manufacturer or installer of the product could be liable. Examples include defective pool drains (which can suck down and trap swimmers – a known hazard addressed by safety standards), malfunctioning life jackets that don’t stay buoyant, boat defects (like a boat that capsizes due to a design flaw), or pool covers that collapse. Even things like an inaccurate pool depth marker or a faulty alarm on a door leading to a pool could be considered in a product liability claim. If a child’s swim float had a design flaw that caused it to flip over, or a pool’s electrical system caused electrocution and drowning, these would also fall under product-related negligence. In legal terms, if a product was unreasonably dangerous or didn’t have proper warnings, and that directly contributed to the drowning, the company responsible for that product can be sued.
• Landlord and Property Manager Responsibilities: Landlords who have pools, hot tubs, or other water features on their rental properties have to ensure they meet local safety ordinances (like the fencing requirements) and address hazards. If a tenant or tenant’s guest drowns due to a condition the landlord should have fixed or warned about, the landlord may be liable. For example, if a gate to the apartment pool was broken and unfixed, allowing a child to wander in, or if a known issue like lack of a lifeline in a pool or broken pool ladder wasn’t addressed, that could be considered negligence on the landlord’s part. Landlords might also be responsible if they failed to inform tenants about certain risks (for instance, if the property backs onto a riverbank, they might need to have a secure fence or at least warn tenants of the danger to children). It’s also worth noting that in Oregon, while homeowners are advised to carry insurance for pools, that doesn’t protect them from liability – it just means their insurer might pay out for claims. From a legal perspective, a landlord can’t waive away their duty by saying “use at your own risk” in a lease if they didn’t take basic safety steps required by law.
• Other Potential Liable Parties: Depending on the situation, there may be other parties involved. For instance, if a summer camp or school trip to a water park results in a drowning, the organization in charge could be liable for inadequate supervision or safety planning. If a maintenance company serviced a pool and left a gate open or failed to replace a drain cover, they might share liability. In boating scenarios, the owner of the boat (if different from the operator) might be liable if the boat was unsafe or if they allowed an incompetent person to operate it. And in some tragic cases, multiple failures compound – e.g., a public pool drowning might involve negligence by lifeguards, the facility management (for poor training or staffing), and even the manufacturer of a faulty alarm that didn’t sound when someone entered the water. An experienced attorney will investigate all angles to determine who can be held accountable.

In summary, liability for drowning accidents hinges on negligence – the failure to take reasonable care to prevent harm. Lack of fencing, inadequate supervision, and defective equipment are classic examples of negligence leading to drownings. It’s also critical to remember that even if a victim themselves was being careless (say, swimming while intoxicated), that doesn’t automatically absolve others of blame. Oregon follows a comparative negligence rule, meaning responsibility can be shared; you could still pursue a claim if another’s negligence was more significant in causing the harm. Given the complexity of these cases, it’s often wise to seek legal advice, which leads to our next topic.

What to Do Immediately After a Drowning or Near-Drowning Incident

In the terrifying aftermath of a drowning or near-drowning, it can be hard to think clearly. However, the actions taken in those critical moments (and the hours following) can save a life and also protect your legal rights. Here’s what to do if you witness or respond to a drowning emergency:

1. Call 911 Immediately: The very first step is to alert emergency services. Drowning victims need medical attention as soon as possible. Even if the person has been pulled from the water and seems to be breathing, call 911, because complications can develop quickly (such as secondary drowning where fluid in the lungs causes distress later). Give your location and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
2. Safely Remove the Person from Water: If it’s safe for you to do so, get the person out of the water. Do not put yourself at undue risk if there are strong currents or other hazards – use flotation devices or reach with an object if needed to avoid becoming a victim yourself. In a pool, use the pool’s rescue tools (life hook or float) if available. Time is critical, so act quickly but cautiously.
3. Check Breathing and Pulse: Once on land, see if the person is breathing. A near-drowning victim may be unconscious and not breathing, or they might be gasping or coughing up water. If they are not breathing, begin CPR immediately. For drowning victims, rescue breaths are extremely important – the latest guidelines emphasize giving breaths in addition to chest compressions. If you’re trained in CPR, start with 2 rescue breaths and then cycles of compressions and breaths. If you are not formally trained in CPR, the 911 dispatcher can often guide you. Do not assume someone is beyond help – there are cases of drowning victims being resuscitated after quite a few minutes underwater, especially in cold water. Keep trying until medical professionals take over or the person revives. All drowning victims pulled from water should receive CPR with rescue breaths as soon as possible.
4. Provide First Aid as Appropriate: If the person has a pulse and is breathing on their own, put them in the recovery position (lying on their side) to keep their airway clear, and watch them closely until paramedics arrive. They may vomit water; the recovery position helps prevent choking. Keep them warm (cover with a blanket or towel) because immersion in water can cause hypothermia. If the person is conscious, keep them calm and still – breathing may be labored. Never assume everything is fine even if they seem okay; complications can occur, so they need a medical check.
5. Gather Information at the Scene (if possible): Once the immediate life-saving measures are underway or done, and if you are not the one actively performing CPR, try to gather some information. Note exactly where and when the incident happened. If there were any witnesses, get their names and contact info – their accounts might be important later. In a public place, notify the lifeguard or manager on duty (they should already be helping with rescue, but make sure the incident is being logged). If in a private area, inform the property owner or someone in charge. Take a quick mental (or written) note of conditions: was a gate left open? Did a pool alarm go off? Were there life jackets available? This context can be crucial in determining what went wrong.
6. Document the Conditions (when things are under control): If the situation stabilizes and you have a chance, take photos or videos of the scene. For example, photograph the pool and its fence, the boat and the lifejacket (or lack thereof), the area of the river where it happened, etc. Also photograph any equipment that was involved (a defective drain, a broken ladder, etc.). This evidence can later help show hazardous conditions – such as a lack of warning signs, broken safety gear, or inadequate fencing. Of course, do this only if it does not interfere with providing aid or respect for the victim. In a fatal incident, police investigators will usually handle documentation, but in a non-fatal near-drowning you might need to preserve evidence yourself.
7. Cooperate with Authorities: When emergency medical services arrive, give them a clear report of what happened. If law enforcement arrives (which often happens in drowning cases, especially if negligence might be involved), provide factual information. If it was on someone else’s property or a public facility, there will likely be an incident report – make sure your account is included. Do not speculate or assign blame on the spot; just state what you observed.
8. Seek Medical Evaluation for the Victim: Any person who has gone through a near-drowning should get a full medical evaluation, even if they seem perfectly fine afterward. Delayed complications like secondary drowning (fluid in the lungs) can be life-threatening hours later. A hospital will monitor breathing, oxygen levels, and possibly perform chest X-rays to ensure the lungs are clear. This is important for health, but it also creates a medical record of the incident which can be useful if legal action is taken later.
9. Contact Your Insurance (If Applicable): If the incident happened at your home (say, a neighbor’s child fell in your pool), you should notify your homeowner’s insurance as soon as practical, as they may need to open a claim. Do not discuss specifics of fault or liability, just report that an incident occurred. Similarly, if it was a boating accident, notify your boat insurance carrier. This step isn’t about blaming anyone, but it’s part of the process to ensure any immediate costs (ambulance, etc.) might be covered and it triggers the insurer to start their own investigation.
10. Consider Legal Advice (Especially if Negligence is Suspected): Once the immediate crisis is over and the person is safe or receiving care, think about consulting a lawyer – particularly if the drowning resulted from someone else’s negligence (for example, a faulty pool gate, a drunk boat driver, or lack of warnings). We’ll discuss more on when to contact a lawyer in the next section, but it’s often helpful to reach out sooner rather than later. A lawyer can advise you on what evidence to gather and how to deal with insurance or investigators’ questions.

Above all, focus on health and safety first – legal matters can be addressed after the fact, but you can’t undo a life lost. By acting swiftly to rescue and getting medical help, many near-drowning victims can recover. And by methodically noting what happened, you’ll be in a better position later if you decide to pursue accountability for the accident.

(One important note: If you’ve lost a loved one in a drowning, no one expects you to collect evidence in that moment. Police and safety inspectors will usually handle the investigation in fatal incidents. Your priority is getting support and taking care of your family. You can contact a lawyer later to help obtain those official reports and determine next steps.)

When to Contact a Portland Drowning Lawyer

Not every water-related accident requires an attorney, but there are many situations where speaking with a Portland drowning lawyer can be extremely beneficial. Drowning and near-drowning cases are complex – they involve intricate questions of fact (exactly how did it happen?) and law (who had a duty and who breached it?). Here are some guidelines on when it makes sense to contact a lawyer about a drowning accident:

• Severe Injury or Fatality Occurred: If a drowning led to death or serious injury (such as brain damage from lack of oxygen), it’s wise to consult an attorney. These cases often result in significant medical expenses, potential long-term care needs, or the heartbreaking costs of a funeral and loss of income. A lawyer can help pursue a wrongful death claim or personal injury claim to seek compensation for these damages. While no amount of money replaces a life, holding the responsible parties accountable can provide financial stability and a sense of justice for the family.
• Evidence of Negligence by Others: Whenever you have an inkling that someone else’s negligence contributed to the incident, get legal advice. For example, if the drowning happened in an unfenced or poorly maintained pool, if a lifeguard was reportedly not attentive, if a boat operator was drunk or failed to provide life jackets, or if a piece of equipment failed, these are red flags. An experienced Portland drowning lawyer will be familiar with scenarios like this and can investigate further. They may gather maintenance records, witness statements, or even hire experts (like aquatic safety experts or engineers) to prove negligence. Remember, factors like lack of fencing, inadequate supervision, or defective equipment can all lead to legal responsibility for a drowning – but you will need evidence to back up those claims.
• Disputes with Insurance or Liability Denial: Oftentimes, insurance companies get involved – whether it’s a homeowner’s insurance, a boating insurance, or even a city’s liability insurer if it happened at a public facility. These companies may contact you for statements or may even offer a quick settlement. If an insurer is calling you, it’s a good idea to speak with a lawyer before responding in detail. Insurance adjusters might try to minimize the payout or even deny liability (“We don’t think we were at fault because the victim ignored a warning sign,” for example). A lawyer can handle communications with insurers to make sure your rights are protected and you don’t inadvertently say something that hurts your claim. They also understand how to calculate a fair settlement value, including future costs, which laypeople might underestimate.
• Unclear Liability or Multiple Parties Involved: Sometimes it’s not obvious who is legally responsible. For instance, say a child drowns at an apartment complex pool: the blame could lie with the parents (for a momentary lapse), the apartment management (if the gate was broken), perhaps even the company that built the pool (if it had a design flaw). A Portland drowning attorney can sift through the facts and identify all possible defendants. Oregon’s laws on comparative negligence will affect the case if multiple parties (including the victim) share fault. An attorney will know how to navigate this – for example, you can still recover damages as long as you were not more at fault than the other party, and the amount will be adjusted by your percentage of fault. Sorting this out requires legal skill, especially if each party has its own insurer or lawyer.
• Need for Expert Guidance and Peace of Mind: Beyond the concrete reasons above, contacting a lawyer can simply give you peace of mind. Drowning incidents are traumatic. You’re likely dealing with grief or shock, and the thought of legal battles can be overwhelming. By consulting a Portland drowning lawyer, you get a professional’s take on your situation. They can explain whether you have a strong case, what steps would be involved, and what outcomes are possible. Even if you’re unsure about suing anyone, a consultation can help clarify your options. Most personal injury attorneys offer free initial consultations, so it won’t cost you anything to find out where you stand. You might decide after talking that you don’t want to pursue a claim, and that’s okay – but it’s better to make an informed decision. On the other hand, if you do have a valid claim, getting an attorney involved early can ensure evidence is preserved (they may secure surveillance footage or get a pool inspected before changes are made) and that legal deadlines (statute of limitations in Oregon for personal injury is generally 2 years from the incident, with some nuances) are not missed.

Importantly, involving a lawyer doesn’t mean things have to become hostile or overly dramatic. In many cases, a lawyer working on your behalf can reach a fair settlement with the responsible party’s insurance without a protracted court battle. Their presence signals to the other side that you are serious and informed about your rights. Especially in cases of egregious negligence – say a city not having required safety equipment, or a manufacturer knowing about a defective pool drain – a lawyer can push for changes that improve safety for others, beyond just compensation for you.

Avoiding Over-Promotion: It’s worth noting that seeking legal counsel is a practical step, not about exploiting a tragedy. A good drowning accident attorney in Portland will approach your case with compassion and diligence, not high-pressure sales tactics. They can deal with the legal complexities while you focus on healing and recovery. In short, contacting a Portland drowning lawyer is advisable when you face significant harm and suspect someone else’s fault – not every incident will lead to a lawsuit, but many drowning accidents do warrant at least an evaluation by a legal expert.

Staying Safe and Informed

While this post is aimed at educating you on drowning accidents and legal considerations, the overarching hope is that you never have to experience such a tragedy. Drowning is often called a silent killer – it can happen fast and quietly. By understanding common causes (and thereby how to prevent them), recognizing high-risk environments around Portland, and knowing the steps to take in an emergency, you can reduce the risks for yourself and your loved ones. Simple precautions like constant supervision of kids around water, using life jackets on open water, avoiding alcohol while swimming/boating, and securing pools with fences and alarms can literally save lives. According to safety experts, most drownings are highly preventable with proper measures and awareness.

If an incident does occur, remember that you’re not alone. In the immediate aftermath, focus on rescue and medical help – those moments are critical. Afterward, don’t hesitate to lean on professionals for help: medical professionals for health concerns and legal professionals for questions of liability. Your priority should always be safety and healing, but protecting your legal rights is also part of taking care of your family’s future. A Portland drowning lawyer can guide you through the legal steps so you can concentrate on recovery or mourning, and perhaps help spur changes that prevent future tragedies at that location.

In conclusion, drowning accidents combine heartbreaking human loss with complex legal issues. We hope this comprehensive overview has armed you with knowledge to stay safe, and clarity on what to do if the worst happens. Stay vigilant around water, insist on safety measures, and keep informed about your rights. With the summer months and water activities always calling, a little caution and preparedness can go a long way toward making sure a day by the river or pool remains the joyous memory it should be – and not a tragedy. Stay safe, Portland.

Sources:

1. Oregon State Marine Board – Recreational Boating Incidents and Fatalities (on life jacket statistics and causes)
2. Willamette Week – Nearly Every Week, a Body is Found in a Portland River (on drowning prevalence in Portland’s rivers)
3. Oregon pool safety regulations and CDC statistics
4. American Heart Association News – CPR with rescue breaths vital after drowning (on CPR guidelines and drowning stats)
5. LegalMatch – Landowner Liability For A Child Drowning (on lack of fencing, supervision, defective equipment causing liability)
6. Willamette Week – Heat wave fuels needless drownings... via U.S. Army Corps (on Oregon drowning statistics increase and life jacket importance)
7. FindLaw – Swimming Pool Accident Liability (on steps after an accident and premises liability considerations)