‘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.
Lincoln County, Tennessee, January 9 —
5-year-old Sawyer Nicole died despite life-saving efforts by family members after falling into a pool.
Miami-Dade County, Florida, January 10 —
A 3
1 / 2– y e a r- o l d g irl was pronounced deceased after she was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when she got out of the home undetected in the middle of the night. Because there was a prior verified report involving the family within 12 months of the death, a Critical Incident Rapid Response Team conducted a review.
Monroe County, Florida, January 25 —
A 2-year-old boy was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the hot tub at the Airbnb where the family was vacationing from another state.
Oakland County, Michigan, January 30 —
A 4-year-old girl drowned at the Deer Lake Athletic Club, where she had been brought by her mother, her mother’s friend, and their combined six total children. The two mothers left their children in the pool with no lifeguards on duty to go to the club’s bar/restaurant.
