Usher Raymond V’s Pool Accident Highlights Importance of Pool Safety

Usher Faces Tragedy Again

Just last summer, Usher and his ex-wife, Tameka Foster, were struck by tragedy when Foster’s son and Usher’s stepson died in a jet skiing accident.  Sadly, the ex-couple is facing tragedy again after their son Usher Raymond V nearly drowned in Usher’s swimming pool.  The 5-year-old boy is in the ICU in Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hospital, but the incident has become the center of a contentious battle between the feuding R & B singer and his ex-wife.  The politics aside, the story highlights the serious importance of pool safety.

Consumer Product Safety Commission Issues Warning Following Incident

Usher Raymond V is expected to recover from his injuries, although his parents’ custody battle will likely be a longer saga.  The drowning incident and the publicity that it is receiving have prompted the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue a warning to the larger public.  The CPSC is urging home pool owners to purchase inexpensive drain covers for their pools, citing statistics that at least 39 children died between 2008-2012 when they were sucked by the powerful drains.  Although Usher Raymond V’s injuries were sustained due to a pool drain issue, pools can pose a variety of other problems if the proper safety rules are not followed.

Pool Safety Tips

According to the 2010 CPSC Pool and Spa Subemersion Report, 77% of reported fatalities were children younger than 5 years old.  The overwhelming majority of these incidents occurred in pools, and 84% of the fatalities were in residential locations.  However, these tragedies can easily be avoided by following basic safety tips and becoming educated on pool safety.  Poolsafely.gov provides the following safety tips for parents and children to safely enjoy the swimming pool:

• Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water
• Teach children basic water safety tips
• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments
• Have a telephone close by when you or your family is using a pool or spa
• If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first
• Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors
• Learn to perform CPR on children and adults, and update those skills regularly
• Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency