In one week in Arizona, we have lost one 3 year old to drowning, and another is in critical condition. Only yesterday, a 4 year old boy drowned in the family pool while his dad slept.
We have no details regarding the 3 year old who drowned except that he was pronounced dead at Banner Children’s Hospital.
The same day another child, also 3, was found by his mother at the bottom of the deep end in their private pool. The child was playing alone on the back patio while his mother was caring for her baby daughter. We also know that they have a pool in their yard and it does not have a fence. Reportedly, the mother was calling to the boy every few minutes and became alarmed when he didn’t answer. The mother then searched the yard and found him in the pool. He was not breathing when the paramedics arrived and they performed CPR. He was airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital where he was put on a ventilator. The hospital upgraded his condition on Sunday to “guarded” and he may have been released this week.
The 4 year old, along with his 5 year old sister, climbed the pool fence while their dad slept and got into the pool. The pool was green, and as the children waded up to their knees, the boy slipped under, the girl began screaming. By the time the dad woke and made it outside, it was too late.
Drowning accidents are called the “silent death”. Kids who drown do not fall in and scream, but rather, fall in, take a big unexpected gulp of water, and that is it. No one ever hears a sound. We have learned how easy this can happen and how quickly little ones can get away from us, yet many of us parents continue to believe that “everything will be fine” and we don’t have to “smother” our children. I, for one, have been guilty of smothering my 3 children, and I don’t feel the least bit bad about it. The fact is we cannot be too safe when it comes to water. We cannot allow our children to play unsupervised in a yard with a pool, fenced or not.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 14 years old. In children 1 to 4 years old, drowning is the leading cause of death. Small children can drown in just two inches of water in minutes, so careful supervision is not only imperative it is the only solution.
Thus far the Maricopa County Attorney has declined to prosecute parents and caregivers for a child drowning. However, civil liability (claims, lawsuits) may be brought, depending on the circumstances. Please consult a board certified, personal attorney regarding your questions.
We have no details regarding the 3 year old who drowned except that he was pronounced dead at Banner Children’s Hospital.
The same day another child, also 3, was found by his mother at the bottom of the deep end in their private pool. The child was playing alone on the back patio while his mother was caring for her baby daughter. We also know that they have a pool in their yard and it does not have a fence. Reportedly, the mother was calling to the boy every few minutes and became alarmed when he didn’t answer. The mother then searched the yard and found him in the pool. He was not breathing when the paramedics arrived and they performed CPR. He was airlifted to Phoenix Children’s Hospital where he was put on a ventilator. The hospital upgraded his condition on Sunday to “guarded” and he may have been released this week.
The 4 year old, along with his 5 year old sister, climbed the pool fence while their dad slept and got into the pool. The pool was green, and as the children waded up to their knees, the boy slipped under, the girl began screaming. By the time the dad woke and made it outside, it was too late.
Drowning accidents are called the “silent death”. Kids who drown do not fall in and scream, but rather, fall in, take a big unexpected gulp of water, and that is it. No one ever hears a sound. We have learned how easy this can happen and how quickly little ones can get away from us, yet many of us parents continue to believe that “everything will be fine” and we don’t have to “smother” our children. I, for one, have been guilty of smothering my 3 children, and I don’t feel the least bit bad about it. The fact is we cannot be too safe when it comes to water. We cannot allow our children to play unsupervised in a yard with a pool, fenced or not.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), fatal drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 14 years old. In children 1 to 4 years old, drowning is the leading cause of death. Small children can drown in just two inches of water in minutes, so careful supervision is not only imperative it is the only solution.
Thus far the Maricopa County Attorney has declined to prosecute parents and caregivers for a child drowning. However, civil liability (claims, lawsuits) may be brought, depending on the circumstances. Please consult a board certified, personal attorney regarding your questions.
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