‘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.
Nashville, Tennessee, September 9 —
A 4-year-old boy died of drowning in a swimming pool that he entered unnoticed by adults at a party.
Youngstown, Ohio, September 29 —
A nearly 2-year-old girl in the care of a babysitter died when she was found in the swimming pool.
SanJose,California,October2—
Two 1-year-old girls fell into the swimming pool at the Happy Happy Home Day Care were pronounced dead at the hospital. A third child suffered non-life-threatening injuries. None of the victims were siblings.
BocaRaton,Florida,October3—
An 8-year-old boy survived a drowning incident at the Lotus clubhouse swimming pool. He was pulled from the pool with blood coming from his moth and difficulty breathing. He was taken to a hospital.
Toledo, Ohio, October 4 —
2-year-old Marcus Anthony Hall left his home while his mother was sleeping and was found drowning in his neighbor’s unfenced swimming pool. Police were called to the scene when a neighbor spotted a boy in a diaper outside the house, chasing a dog. The boy died in the hospital.
Roseville,California,October9—
Two brothers were pronounced dead after they were found unresponsive in a residential swimming pool.
