‘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 prmote 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.
Oceana County, Michigan, June 22 —
A 16-month-old boy died after drowning in an aboveground pool.
Clay County, Florida, June 23 —
A 3 1/ 2– year- old child was pronounced deceased after she was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when she got out of the home undetected while the mother and child were visiting at the aunt's home.
Gilbert, Arizona, June 25 —
A 2-year-old died after being found in the backyard pool.
El Portal, Florida, June 27 —
A 4-year-old girl drowned in the backyard pool of a vacation home her family was renting.
Toledo, Ohio, June 28 —
9-year-old Ava McCourt drowned while swimming in a home pool with several adults and other children.
Chandler, Arizona, June 29 —
A 4-year-old boy drowned at the Hamilton Aquatic Center during a private church event attended by 6080 people and 18 lifeguards.
Richmond, Kentucky, June 30 —
7-year-old Santino Montreal Yancey Hardwick died at the hospital after he was found submerged at the Paradise Cove Aquatic Center swimming pool.
Jensen Beach, Florida, July 1 —
A 1-year-old girl under her grandmother’s care went missing and was found submerged in the home’s swimming pool. She did not survive.
Port Allen, Louisiana, July 2 —
A 3-year-old non-verbal autistic girl drowned in a neighbor ’s swimming pool after going missing from her home.
Cook County, Illinois, July 4 —
A 5-year-old girl was in critical condition after she was found in a home swimming pool.
Buffalo Grove, Illinois, July 4 —
A 5-year-old boy drowned in a residential pool.
Whitley County, Kentucky, July 4 —
16-month-old Lucas Mattie was found unresponsive in a home pool and pronounced dead at the hospital.
Carrollton Township, Michigan, July 5 —
A 15-year-old boy drowned during a large party with dozens of other teenagers.
Palo Alto, California, July 6 —
A 7-year-old child drowned at the Barron Square condominium and townhome swimming pool.
Two adults were in critical condition after trying to rescue the child.
