‘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.

Pasco, Florida, August 23 —

A 10-year-old autistic child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the family’s swimming pool.

Fairfax Station, Indiana, August 25 —

A child drowned in a residential pool and was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. No other details were provided.

Wichita, Kansas, August 27 —

8-year-old Lucas Kindrick died after drowning at a home pool party.

Jackson County, Missouri, August 28 —

A 1-year-old and 2-year-old were found unresponsive in a residential pool. The children were transported to the hospital and pronounced dead.

Orange, Florida, September 3 —

5-year-old autistic child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when he got out of the home undetected while the family was vacationing from out of state.

Phoenix, Arizona, September 5 — A 2-year-old boy was in extremely critical condition after a family member found him in a swimming pool. Family members started CPR before first responders arrived and transported him to the hospital.

North Liberty, Indiana, September 5 —

A 6-year-old boy died after drowning in a home swimming pool. CPR was attempted before the boy was transported to the hospital and pronounced dead.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, September 6 —

A 2-year-old boy reported missing was found dead in the swimming pool of an apartment complex. It was presumed that the boy drowned.

St Joseph County, Indiana, September 6 —

A 6-year-old boy attending a Labor Day Party of about 50 guests drowned in the pool. Someone noticed the boy unresponsive in the pool and CPR was attempted before emergency crews arrived and transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Phoenix, Arizona, September 6 —

A 2-year-old boy who drowned in a home pool died at the hospital. He was transported there in critical condition.