Drowning matters every day, not just every May

‘NOT ON MY WATCH’

Drowning injuries and fatalities are so commonplace that the stories could fill up whole newspapers.

The CDC estimates that about 10 people die from drowning in the U. S. every day.

Children ages 1 through 4 have the highest drowning rates and most happen in residential pools.

Drowning events are real, tragic, frequently preventable, and much more than just statistics.

There are measures that service technicians can take to promote drowning awareness.

Speak to parents about removing toys and other temptations from the pool area.

Encourage parents to learn about layers of protection: pool covers, gates and alarms.

Remind parents there is no substitution for total supervision around the pool area.

Service professionals are in peoples’ backyards every day, and therefore in a unique position to point out danger areas, but may not do so unless the drowning problem is brought home to them.

The following is a description of just some of the drowning incidents that have recently occurred.

Manatee County, Florida, May 27 —

A 1- 1/2-year-old child was pronounced dead after she was found submerged in the family’s swimming pool.

She got out of the home undetected.

Broward County, Florida, June 3 —

A 1-year-old child was pronounced dead nearly 4 weeks after he was found unresponsive in the family’s swimming pool.

Nassau County, Florida, June 4 —

A 2-year-old child was pronounced dead after she was found floating in the family’s above-ground pool.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 7 —

A 5-year-old boy drowned in an apartment complex pool after he and a 3-year-old child snuck out of the apartment while the parents were sleeping. The 3-year-old was found in the pool area but not in the water. The 5-year-old was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.

Moore, Oklahoma, June 7 —

A 4-year-old girl died after a drowning incident in her neighbors pool. The girl went missing from her house for 15 minutes and was found in the unattended pool. She was taken to the hospital in critical condition where she later died.