‘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.

Burlington County, New Jersey, June 24 —

6-year-old Michael Stewart drowned on his first day attending the Liberty Lakes Day Camp. The boy’s group was being supervised at the pool by numerous counselors and four lifeguards.

Oak Grove, Missouri, June 27 —

2-year-old Carson James Bryant-Ferrantello drowned in his backyard pool and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Memphis, Tennessee, June 27 —

A 4-year-old girl drowned in a Comfort Suites pool. The girl and her older sister got into the pool — through an unlocked door — after midnight.

Miami-Dade, Florida June 27 —

5-year-old Mario Chavez drowned in a relative’s swimming pool during a family gathering. A neighbor and the boy’s aunt administered CPR before the child was airlifted to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Chino, California, June 30 —

A teenage boy died after suffering a medical emergency in his high school pool. The boy was expected to be a star player on the football team.

Virginia Beach, Virginia, June 30 —

A child is dead after being found unresponsive in a home swimming pool.

Sarasota County, Florida, June 30 —

A 2 1/2-year-old child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when a relative fell asleep on the enclosed lanai where she was watching the child and twin sibling.

Oneida, Tennessee, July 1 —

2-year-old Houston Branscum drowned in the swimming pool while his family was making dinner.

Phoenix, Arizona, July 2 —

1-year-old Zion Rodgers drowned after falling in his family’s pool. He

was taken to the hospital in critical condition but he died.

Fresno, California, July 3 —

Two sisters, a 12- and 14-yearold drowned in a home pool. The 12-year-old was in critical condition. 15-year-old Mia Santos died.

East Meadow, New York, July 4 —

A 7-year-old boy drowned in a home swimming pool. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Mission, Texas, July 4 —

A 3-year-old boy died after drowning in a home swimming pool. The boy and his mother were visiting from Florida.

Rome, Georgia, July 4 —

1-year-old Adeline Kate Bagwell drowned at a pool party. Attendees noticed she was missing and found her under a pool float.

Charlotte, North Carolina, July 4 —

2-year-old Wyatt Gordon died three days after falling in the swimming pool.

From page 16

Antioch, Tennessee, July 5 —

4-year-old Mariam Jabateh drowned in an apartment complex pool surrounded by several groups of people.

Her mother left her on the steps for a few seconds before people started yelling.

Hardee County, Florida, July 5 —

A 4 1/2-year-old autistic child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the family’s swimming pool when he got out of the home undetected.

Rockville, Maryland, July 6 —

A 3-year-old, who had been reported missing, was found dead in a neighborhood swimming pool.

Georgetown, Massachusetts, July 7 — A 3-year-old girl remained hospitalized after a drowning incident in a home’s pool.

She was under water for more than 3 minutes.

Gloucester, Virginia, July 7 —

A 3-year-old died after falling in a pool during a pool party.

Osceola County, Florida, July 7 —

A 4-year-old child was pronounced deceased after she was found unresponsive at the bottom of the swimming pool when she was left unattended while a relative went inside the home to get food for the children.

Arab, Alabama, July 8 —

2-year-old Violet Satterfield failed two brain death exams and was taken off life support after drowning in a home swimming pool.