‘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.
Miami-Dade, Florida, November 17 —
A 1-year-old child was pronounced deceased the day after he was found unresponsive in the family’s swimming pool when he got out of the home undetected.
Northridge, California, November 23 —
A 3-year-old girl was found by family members floating in the pool on Thanksgiving.
Her 15-year-old aunt, who had learned CPR in school, got the child breathing again.
Auburndale, Florida, November 23 —
A 2-year-old girl drowned in a residential pool and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Gilbert, Arizona, December 4 —
A 1-year-old boy died after falling into a home pool which he accessed through the doggie door.
