It’s summertime in New York City. Although it is one of the biggest cities in the world, New York also has plenty of opportunities to get out on the water. Whether swimming in the Rockaways, splashing in a pool or boating on the rivers, there are numerous ways to get cool and enjoy summer in the city.
However, enjoying the water can mean accidents that result in injury and death. New Yorkers are not immune from summertime drowning and boating accidents to be found in other parts of the country. Here’s a partial list of water-related accidents that have occurred in the New York City area recently:
- A Yonkers man died and his companion was seriously injured recently when their rowboat capsized on the Croton Reservoir
- The son of hedge fund billionaire George Soros was injured in a boating accident on Long Island
- A 53 boat ran aground near Long Beach Township, New Jersey, injuring at least four people, according to reports
- A Yonkers man downed off the Jersey Shore near Mantoloking
- A Westchester County worker drowned in a lake Pound Ridge at while installing a pump in Blue Heron Lake
- A swimmer drowned in Suffolk County at Smith Point County Park in Mastic Beach
- A man drowned in the Hudson River near Pierson Park in Tarrytown
According to Rockland County officials, drowning is a leading cause of death among children age 1 to 4 in New York State. Families can take the following basic steps to make sure children are safe in and around water:
- Learn life-saving and basic swimming skills.
- Fence off private swimming pools and be aware of NY pool safety requirements.
- Require children to wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of water, such as lakes or the ocean. Do this even if they know how to swim. Everyone – adults and children alike – should wear life jackets when boating.
- Stay alert. An adult should be tasked with watching kids when they are in the water. That person should not be texting, reading or drinking alcohol to excess. That person should also keep his or her cell phone handy in case of emergencies.
Following simple rules like these can help keep you safe in the waters in and around New York City this summer. If you were injured or lost a loved one in a boating accident or other recreational accident, an experience NYC personal injury lawyer may be able to help.