‘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.
Brevard, Florida, May 5 —
A 2-year-old child was pronounced deceased nearly one month after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool while the family was celebrating Easter at the mother’s paramour’s residence.
Miami-Dade, Florida, May 8 —
A 2-year-old child was pronounced deceased 2 days after he was found unresponsive in the family’s swimming pool when he got out of the home undetected.
Seminole, Florida, May 9 —
A 2 1/2-year-old infant was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool at his in-home daycare when he got out of the home undetected.
Orange, Florida, May 9 —
A 2-year-old child was pronounced deceased af ter he was found unresponsive in the family’s swimming pool.
El Paso, Texas, May 13 —
3-year-old Anthony Leo Malave drowned at a city water park. Lifeguards
on duty tried to save the boy but were unsuccessful.
Atlanta, Georgia, May 13 —
10-year-old Leari Chestnut drowned in a swimming pool.
Osceola, Florida, May 15 —
A 4-year-old child was pronounced deceased the day after he was found unresponsive in a swimming pool while at a party with his father.
Raleigh, North Carolina, May 16 —
A 4-year-old boy who had been reported missing was found unresponsive in his apartment’s community pool.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 21 —
A 3-year-old girl fell into her home’s backyard pool and drowned. Her family said they weren’t sure how she fell into the pool that was covered with a tarp.
Sarasota, Florida, May 21 —
A 2 1/ 2- year- old child was pronounced deceased 1 week after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when he got out of the home undetected.
Pembroke Pines, Florida, May 22 —
A 2-year-old boy was in critical condition after drowning in a backyard pool.
Broward, Florida May 26 —
A 1 1/ 2- year- old child was pronounced deceased four days after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when he and his older sibling got out of the home undetected.
Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, May 29 —
A 17-year-old boy drowned in a home’s swimming pool. Crews attempted lifesaving measures but were unsuccessful.
Whiteland, Indiana, May 30 —
15-year-old Alaina Dildine died of drowning after suffering a seizure while swimming laps during her high school P.E. class.
Bibb County, Georgia, May 28 –
A 4-year-old boy drowned in a home swimming pool where his family was visiting for the holiday weekend.
