‘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.

Osceola County, Florida, February 15 —

A 2-year-old child was pronounced deceased 4 days after she was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when she got out of the Airbnb undetected. The family was vacationing in Florida from another state.

Glendale, Arizona, February 18 —

An 18-month-old girl drowned in the pool of a home she was visiting. The pool was fenced.

Geneva Alabama, February 22 —

11-year-old Ricky Zane Lawrence was found drowned in his neighbor’s pool. The boy, who was autistic, had been reported missing the afternoon before.

Huntsville, Alabama, February 23 —

20-year-old Jeavonn Barracks died at the hospital, a week after a swimming incident in the Oakwood University Natatorium. No details were released regarding the incident.

Orange County, Florida, February 23 —

A 5-year-old boy was pronounced deceased after he was found in the swimming pool when he got out of the home undetected while in the care of the mother’s roommate.