‘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.

Hephzibah, Georgia, May 8 —

1-year-old Maddox Grayson Acevedo died in his backyard pool after the family dog left the back door open.

Bradenton, Florida, May 9 —

A 4-year-old drowned during a pool party attended by family members at her apartment complex.

Butts County, Georgia, May 10 —

A 5-year-old drowned after climbing a 6-foot fence to access a

backyard pool.

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, May 11 —

5-month-old A'zara Beckett drowned in the Best Western Hotel hot tub.

Orange County, Florida, May 13 —

A 2 1/ 2– year- old child was pronounced deceased after she was found floating in the family's swimming pool when she followed her sibling outside undetected.

Osceola County, Florida, May 15 —

A 2 1/ 2– year- old child was pronounced deceased 2 days after he was found unresponsive in the swimming pool when he managed to get out of the home undetected after being placed down for a nap in his crib.

Dinuba, California, May 17 —

A 2-year-old drowned after falling into a swimming pool.

Prairieville, Louisiana, May 18 —

3-year-old Ian Guardado died in his baby sitter’s swimming pool while under her care.

Port St. Lucie, Florida, May 20 —

A 20-month-old drowned in her backyard pool after accessing the backyard through a sliding glass door a family member left ajar letting the dogs out.

Montgomery, Alabama, May 22 —

A 13-year-old boy died shortly after he was pulled from the pool at the McIntyre Community Center.

Dunnellon, Florida, May 23 —

Atoddler was pronounced deceased at the hospital after drowning in a swimming pool.