Important Steps to Take if a Loved One Was Harmed During an Aquatic Activity

We always need to care for our loved ones, especially if they are in immediate need of it. If you frequently go swimming or have had some similar experience with your family, then you must know how to behave in certain situations.

Make sure they are safe

Of course, if someone you care for gets somehow injured in the water, then you should look to get them out of the water. If you think that they injured a particular part of the body, such as the neck, then you should be careful not to further injure them. Sometimes people who get injured in the water cannot use their bodies properly, so ensuring that they do not drown is crucial in this case, so you should look to get them out of the water as soon as possible. If you do not feel able to do that, then you should tell someone else to help you out. You should refrain from trying to help if there are other options because you do not want to be in the way.

If there was a fatality

The worst case scenario that could happen is, unfortunately, that the person you get out of the water is already dead. Even though this can be quite traumatic, you must know a few things that you should do. First, of course, you should try to perform CPR while someone calls an ambulance if the person is unconscious. It would be really helpful if you learned how to do that because it can be life-saving in a lot of situations. If the case is fatal, then there are some things that you should consider. You should call the police as well as your lawyer. If you do not have one, then you can get a trusted drowning accident attorney who could help you navigate through these things. We know that in these situations, it is really hard to think but if you do not act wisely, someone who is at fault for the fatality could go unpunished. 

Clear the space around the injured person

What many people do when they see that something unusual has happened is they tend to crowd up around the person and just stare at them without help. What you should do is tell them that if they do not know how to help, move away a few feet. You do not want the person who is hurt to feel under pressure, which can make the injury they have even worse. Also, these people would just get in your way, so everything would go much faster if you would clear out.

See how bad it is

Once you get the person out of the water, you should assess the situation and the injury that she or he is having. If they broke something, then you must call an ambulance, while if you suspect that they may have hurt their back or something that could cause serious trouble if not treated correctly, then do not risk it. If somehow they sustained a cut, you will see what to do depending on the wound.

Show support

We all know how serious injuries and near-death scenarios can leave people in shock, and that is why you must show your loved ones that everything will be alright now and that they do not have to worry anymore. Many times, people can form traumas from these types of situations so it is crucial that you calm them as much as possible so that you can minimize the damage. You should know that later on, you may need to seek a therapist to help them overcome the scenario that they went through. 

Collect evidence

If there was a reason why the accident happened, you must collect as much evidence as you can before it magically disappears. You should take pictures of the injuries and what caused them. If there is faulty equipment, document that as well. All of these can help you if you ever decide to take legal action against someone who may be responsible for all of it. 

Find witnesses

Once you have secured the safety of your loved one and given them proper treatment, you should look out for who saw what happened and get their information so that it is easier to present what happened. If there were people with him or close to him when the accident happened, you need to find them and persuade them to testify if this case ever gets to court. The more witnesses you have, the easier it will be for the judge and the jury to make a correct decision. If there are video cameras there, make sure that your legal representative gets to it as soon as possible so that no one gets to change the footage. 

Report the incident

Once the dust has settled, if your injury happened at a private property or even a public pool, it would be really considerate that you report the incident to the people who run the place, including the management or the owners. This is of great importance because you may suggest some things that are not as they should be and that need change. This way, you will prevent other people from getting hurt. 

Be there for them

After the accident, someone will need to take care of the person who got injured and if there is no one to do it, take this task into your hands. Even small injuries can present an issue with functioning daily. You should see whether he or she needs some help with cooking, cleaning, and so on. Also, make sure that they take their medication and adhere to the doctor’s advice. Keep track of their mental state, see whether there is a change in their behavior, and report to the doctor if there is something strange. 

Accidents can happen at any time so it is crucial that you know how to react properly. You need to always be prepared so that you can keep the harm to a minimum.