‘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.

Hernando County, Florida, November 13 —

A 2 1/2- year-old girl was pronounced deceased after she was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when she got out of the home undetected.

Jacksonville, Florida, November 19 —

A man was found dead in a swimming pool. Police were investigating the cause of his death.

Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 19 —

A 6-year-old child drowned in a LaQuinta Inn swimming pool. First responders attempted CPR, but the child died.

Tucson, Arizona, November 20 —

A 2-year-old girl drowned in a home swimming pool while her mother was sleeping. When her mother woke, she discovered her daughter in the pool and attempted life-saving measures. The mother was arrested for negligent homicide.