‘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 promote drowning awareness.
Speak to parents about removing toys and other temptations from the pool area.
Encourage parents to learn about 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, 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.
Harrison County, Pennsylvania, July 20 —
2-year-old Cassius Alexander Saulsgiver died four days after being found in a home’s pool. The boy was left briefly alone and opened a sliding glass door leading to the pool.
Shafter, California, July 28 —
1-year-old Mateo Valladares was found unresponsive in a home’s swimming pool. He died in the hospital three days later.
Bullock County, Georgia, July 28 —
10-year-old James Andre Misidor, Jr. died of drowning in his backyard pool. No other details were reported.
Virginia Beach, Virginia, July 28 —
A child who was reported missing was found in the backyard pool. First responders administered CPR on the child who was under the age of 5, but the child was pronounced dead on scene.
Yuma, Arizona, July 29 —
A 2-year-old boy drowned in a home pool. The boy and his mother were visiting from out of state andnoonesawhimleavethehousebuthehadaccess to the pool through the doggie door and an unlocked fence.
Bakersfield, California, July 31 —
A 2-year-old was in critical condition after being found in a residential pool by family members. Responding officers found the child unresponsive and was transported to an area hospital.
Barre, New York, August 5 —
A 16-month-old child fell into a pool and drowned. First responders arrived and administered CPR but the child could not be resuscitated.
Elba Township, Michigan, August 5 —
A 4-year-old boy visiting his grandmother’s house with his mother and a twin sibling was found unresponsive in the home’s pool and died two days later. He accessed the pool through an unlocked gate. He was last seen sleeping in the house.
