‘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, and 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.

Oakland, California, Jan 31 —

Ralston Louie, 28, a documentary film maker, died in his sister’s apartment complex swimming pool which he used regularly to swim laps. A passing resident spotted him at the bottom of the pool. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, February 1 —

A 1-year-old child was pronounced dead after drowning in a home’s swimming pool. Police had been called about a missing child and found the child in the pool.