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 of those drownings happen in home swimming 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, in a unique position to point out danger areas, but may not do so unless the drowning problem is brought home to them.

To that end, the following is a description of just some of the drowning incidents that have recently occurred.

South Wichita, Kansas, July 7 —

A 2-year-old boy drowned in a pool at a mobile home park after he “managed to by-pass the fence surrounding the pool, and fell into the water,” police said.

First responders tried to save his life but he died.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, July 7 —

An 80-year-old woman drowned in a swimming pool.

The woman’s son came home from Walmart and found her in the pool and not breathing.

Peoria, Arizona, July 8 —

A toddler was found by family members at the bottom of a pool.

When first responders arrived, the family was performing CPR, and the child woke up but was not responsive and was transported to the hospital in unknown condition.

Mesa, Arizona, July 8 —

A 2-year-old was found at the bottom of a pool and transported to the hospital but later died.

Beaufort County, South Carolina, July 10 —

2-year-old Drew Anderson died from his injuries after a drowning incident that took place July 4.

His parents left him briefly unattended and he fell into the backyard pool.

Beaufort County, South Carolina, July 10 —

9-year-old Elias Maldonado died of drowning at a birthday party.

He was playing at an inflatable bounce house at the party that had a slide into an attached pool, and didn’t stand up after sliding into the pool.

Taylor Mill, Kentucky, July 14 —

A 2-year-old boy died after drowning in a pool where he was visiting family.

It wasn’t clear how long the boy was in the pool before a family member found him.

Wylie, Texas, July 15 —

2-year-old Ezra Tolbert was found face down in a backyard pool.

Upon arrival, first responders found a bystander providing CPR to the boy.

He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Cranston, Rhode Island, July 18 —

89-year-old Ernest Saraiva was found floating face down in a residential pool.

Emergency responders pulled him from the pool and began CPR but he died.

Monroe County, Pensylvania, July 21 —

A 4-year-old boy drowned in an aboveground pool while attending a birthday party.

Efforts to revive the boy failed.

Iredell County, North Carolina, July 21 —

A 15-month-old boy drowned in a pool.

He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead shortly after.