Don’t let your pool take a life
Nothing says summer like a cool dip on a hot day, but a splashing good time can quickly turn tragic. Most childhood drownings occur in swimming pools.
Take the recent death of Emeline Miller, the 19-month-old daughter of America’s most decorated alpine skier, Bode Miller, and his wife, professional beach volleyball player Morgan Beck.
Just steps away when the little girl wandered off, Beck found her daughter in the neighbour’s pool. Attempts to resuscitate little Emmy failed.
Active on social media, Miller shared his family’s grief. They were beyond devastated. The story made international headlines, but drownings are more common than you might think.
In fact, drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children in British Columbia, and nearly half of preschoolers who drown die in residential pools.
Drowning occurs when a person is underwater and breathes water into the lungs. When this happens, the lungs cannot supply oxygen to the rest of the body. Organs, like the heart and brain, quickly shut down.
If a child goes missing, the pool is the first place to look. Time is critical. After four to six minutes underwater, irreversible brain damage sets in. The longer a child is underwater and the longer it takes to start CPR, the worst the outcome.
That’s why all pool owners (and parents) should be certified in CPR. Starting the process immediately can save someone’s life.
Children should never be allowed to swim without watchful adults present. And those cute, inflatable pool toys — you know, the ride-on whales and floating flamingos? Brightly coloured floaties are deadly calling cards for wandering toddlers. Such items should be removed from the pool when it’s not in use.
Non-swimmers and youngsters should wear life-jackets. Doors leading to the pool should be alarmed and adequate fencing with self-locking latches should be installed. Be sure to follow safety protocols for pool and hot tub covers and drains.
Anyone who has parented or even babysat a toddler knows just how fast little tikes can move. All it takes is an engaging conversation over frosty margaritas for adults to lose track of time and sight of their children. Add a crowd of partiers on the pool deck, and it becomes even easier for a toddler to teeter through the crowd and straight into the pool.
Drawn by the shimmering surface and with no fear of water, they make their entrance — often without sound. Small children hit the water with a small sploosh. They rarely thrash or call out and they sink like stones, straight for the bottom. I finally understood this when I took my two-year-old to the beach.
Together, my son and I were wading out into the lake. The water was only up to Nicolas’ waist, but the rocks were slippery. Suddenly, he went down.
I’ll never forget seeing my little boy sitting, in two feet of water, on the stony bottom of the lake, staring up at me with huge, startled eyes. He didn’t move. He just sat there, looking at me. It was haunting. I quickly reached down and hauled him out of the water. I was stunned he hadn’t thought to simply stand up.
Another mother, commenting on parents.com, relayed the story of the neardrowning of her 13-month-old daughter. When the child, dressed in a light-pink bathing suit, went into the pool, it was as though she disappeared on the bottom. Camouflaged, the baby literally blended into the pool’s peachy liner. Luckily, her father was there and found her in time.
Bright swimsuits are not a bad idea. Ditto to swimming lessons. Most importantly, supervision is a must. It’s not enough to trust a group of adults gathered on a pool deck will be mindful of tiny tots. We’re easily distracted, and drownings take so little time.
Most drownings are preventable. Let’s celebrate summer by playing safely around the water.
For excellent safety tips, check out healthlinkbc.ca.
Shannon Linden writes nearly-complete novels, magazine articles and grocery lists. Her column runs every other Saturday in The Okanagan Weekend. Visit her at shannonlinden.ca or email lindenshannon@me.com.