‘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.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 23 –
A child drowned in the Salvation Army Kroc Center swimming pool.
Tempe, Arizona, August 24 –
A 1-year-old boy died several days after drowning in a swimming pool during a pool party
West Liberty, Iowa, August 25 –
A 1-year-old child drowned in a residential backyard swimming pool.
Broward County, Florida, August 27 –
A 1-year-old girl was pronounced deceased after she was found at the bottom of the family's swimming pool when the older sibling managed to unlock the sliding glass door and the two children got out of the home undetected.
Hoover, Alabama, August 30 –
8-year-old Greyson Maiden drowned in a swimming pool while at a family gathering.
Elko, Georgia, August 31 –
A 3-year-old child drowned in the Twin Oaks RV Park swimming pool.
Broward County, Florida, August 31 –
A 3-year-old girl was pronounced deceased 20 days after a near-drowning event when she got out of the home undetected while being watched by her grandparent.
Charlotte County, Florida, September 1 –
A 3-year-old girl was pronounced deceased the day after she was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when she got out of the home undetected.
Pasco County, Florida, September 2 –
A 2 1/ 2– year-old boy was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when he got out of the home undetected through the doggie door..
