When we first started gathering material for this special homeowner’s edition, we realized that a most valuable message on drowning prevention, and perhaps the most wise, would come from people who have lost a loved one in a backyard swimming pool.
Unfortunately it was all too easy to find a large group of people that grows in size daily.
The group is called Families United — A collection of smaller organizations that have come together for the worst possible reason: the loss or near loss of someone they love to a water tragedy.
Families United is made up of a core of 75 people, representing 24 different organizations that promote specific aspects of water safety.
DROWNING PREVENTION CHECK LIST
• If a child is missing… CHECK THE POOL FIRST!
• If there are many people around … NO ONE IS WATCHING THE POOL!
• If your neighbor has a pool… YOUR CHILD CAN GET IN IT!
• If you are waiting for splashing, there is no noise when a person is drowning.
• Toddler’s can climb into above ground pools.
• Children crawl through doggie doors and get into pools.
• Pool covers come off and ONLY you can assure that it is on.
• Swim lessons help prevent drowning but don’t come with a guarantee.
