‘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.
Osceola County, Florida, March 9 —
A 1 1/ 2– year- old child was pronounced deceased after she was found unresponsive in the family's swimming pool when she got out of the home undetected.
Moreno Valley, California, March 13 — 2-year-old Ezequiel Agustin was hospitalized in life-threatening condition after being found in the pool.
His family set up a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses.
Duval County, Florida, March 15 —
A 5 1/ 2– year- old child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool while he was playing outside with an older sibling.
Pinellas County, Florida, March 21 —
A 1-year-old child was pronounced deceased several hours after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when he was able to get out of the house while the father was trying to retrieve the dog that got out of the home.
Houston, Texas, March 30 —
A missing 5-year-old boy was found dead in the neighbor’s pool after climbing over a privacy fence separating the houses.
Charlotte County, Florida, March 31 —
An 11- year- old medical ly compromised child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in an Airbnb swimming pool when he got out of the home while the mother was using the bathroom where the family was vacationing from out of state.
Orange County, Florida,April 1 —
A 1 1/ 2– year-old girl was pronounced deceased the day after she was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when she got out of the grandparent's home undetected.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, April 4 —
14-year-old Neveah Neely, who was autistic and could not swim, drowned at the Sandbar Hotel pool.
Osceola County, Florida, April 5 —
A 4 1/ 2– year- old child was pronounced deceased after he was found unresponsive in the community swimming pool where the family was vacationing at an Airbnb.
