‘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.
Fresno, California, August 9 —
2-year-old Amber Gill fell into a pool and drowned.
Hillsborough County, Florida, August 9 –
A 3 1/ 2– year- old child was pronounced deceased 9 days after he was found at the bottom of a relative's swimming pool where the mother and child were visiting.
Pasco County, Florida, August 11 —
A 16-year-old autistic child was pronounced deceased after he was discovered unresponsive while he was swimming in the pool. The teen had been going to the bottom of the pool and holding his breath (which he liked to do). He was discovered unresponsive when a family member was attempting to get the teens attention.
Broward County, Florida, August 12 —
A 2 1/ 2– year- old child was pronounced dead 10 days after she was found unresponsive in a hotel jacuzzi while she was there with her parents.
Wendell, North Carolina, August 17 —
A 5-year-old drowned in a home pool and was found there by family members.
Fresno, California, August 20 —
A 3-year-old girl drowned in an aboveground pool.
Dimmitt, Texas, August 19 —
A 9-year-old girl drowned in a water tank that was being used as a backyard swimming pool.
Broward County, Florida, August 23 —
A 1 1/ 2– year- old child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the family's swimming pool when he got out of the home undetected.
Marion County, Florida, August 24 —
A nearly 5-year-old child was pronounced dead after he was found unresponsive in the family's swimming pool when he accessed the water while outside with family members who were building a shed.
