‘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.
Hillsborough, Florida, January 18 —
A 2 1/2-year-old child was pronounced deceased 4 days after he was found unresponsive in the family’s swimming pool when he gained access while the parents were unloading groceries.
Pasco, Florida, January 25 —
A2-year-old was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the family’s swimming pool when he gained access while playing with the screenedin patio.
Duval, Florida, January 28 —
A 2-year-old autistic child was pronounced deceased after she was found unresponsive in the family’s above-ground pool when she got out of the home undetected while being watched by her siblings.
Broward, Florida, January 28 —
A 4-year-old child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive
in the swimming pool at the Airbnb where the family was vacationing.
Polk, Florida, February 3 —
A 1 1/2-year-old child was pronounced deceased after he was found at the bottom of the grandparents’ swimming pool when he got out of the home detected.
The incident occurred while the family was visiting from another state.
Hillsborough, Florida, February 4 —
A 2-year-old child was pronounced deceased 4 days after he was found unresponsive in the family’s swimming pool when he gained access to the water undetected.
