‘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 the 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.

Washington, West Virginia, September 7 —

A 5-year-old boy drowned in a neighbor’s pool.

The autistic boy’s father called for help when he noticed the boy had wandered away and first responders located the boy in the pool unresponsive.

St. Lucie, Florida, September 10 —

A 1 ½ – year- old child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in a swimming pool when he got out of the home undetected.

Atwater, California, September 12 —

A 2-year-old drowning victim was revived by responding officers. When officers arrived, the child was not breathing and did not have a pulse.

Brevard County, Florida, September 17 —

An 8-year-old girl drowned during a pool party.

An adult noticed the child’s body at the bottom of the pool and performed life-saving measures but she did not survive.

Villa Hills, Kentucky, September 17 —

11-year-old Eric Niyonkuru drowned in a swimming pool while attending a birthday party.

Fellow party goers noticed he was missing and searched the pool but did not see him.

After searching the neighborhood for 30 minutes, they returned to the pool where they found him.

Lumberton, Texas, September 21 —

A 2-year-old boy drowned in a backyard pool. Adults called 911 and flagged down an ambulance before officers arrived. Ambulance personnel performed CPR but the child was pronounced dead at the hospital.

North Wildwood, New Jersey, September 22 —

A 5-year-old girl was unconscious but in stable condition after a drowning incident at the Roman Holiday Resort motel pool.

The girl was swimming with other children when she hit her head on another child’s elbow and slipped under water.

Adults pulled her out and attempted CPR.

Ocala, Florida, September 25 —

A 5-year-old boy drowned in the Grand Reserve Apartments swimming pool.

A neighbor attempted CPR but the child was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Seminole, Florida, September 25 –

A 1 ½ -year-old child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool during a family gathering at the home.