‘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.
Tempe, Arizona, December 22 — A 2-year-old who was in critical condition in the hospital after her parents found her in a swimming pool, died at the hospital.
Brevard County, Florida, December 23 —
A 3-year-old boy was pronounced deceased 3 weeks after he was found unresponsive in the family's swimming pool which he accessed while outside riding on his tricycle.
Palm Beach County, Florida, December 24 —
A 7-year-old child was pronounced deceased after the child had a seizure and drowned in the apartment complex swimming pool.
Pasco County, Florida, December 27 — A 5-year-old autistic child was pronounced deceased after she was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when she got out of the home undetected 3 days after the family moved into the residence.
Lincoln County, Tennessee, January 9 —
A 5-year-old child fell into a swimming pool and died in a hospital the following day.
Miami-Dade, Florida, January 10 —
A 3-year-old girl died at a vacation rental where her family of seven — 2 adults and five children — were staying. Investigators said the family was asleep when she fell into the pool.
