As temperatures rise and more time is spent in and near both backyard and public pools, you’ll want to take the RIGHT steps to prevent tragedy. Tragically, there are 4,000 related deaths every year in the United States (about 11 drowning deaths per day, according to the CDC).
Both city pools for Bryan and College Station opened last month, and safety is the number one priority for officials.
“I always do highly suggest that making sure that people with backyard pools make sure their door into the backyard is kind of heavier and the knob is higher so kids can’t reach, and then a fence around pools is always awesome,” City of College Station Aquatics Supervisor Jessica Scott emphasized.
There’s little stopping a determined kid from cooling off in the pool – but there are additional steps you’ll want to take beyond a hefty door. Scott and the City of Bryan’s Aquatic Coordinator Hayden Johnson both agree being enrolled in swim lessons will dramatically reduce the risk of drowning for children under five. Studies from the National Institute of Health show the reduction of risk is by as much as 88%.
Johnson said, “Anywhere from six months all the way up to, you know, three years of age, you can definitely get them in [the pool] and get those skills kind of hammered down.”
Johnson and Scott both say water watchers are essential when kids are swimming. It’s also important to use U.S. Coast Guard approved life vests, no matter your age.
Drownings can be swift – they are also initially difficult to identify as they don’t always look the same. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, kids can drown in fewer than just two inches of water. The Texas Department of Family and Human Services says 19 children have drowned in Texas this year alone.
“[It] could be anywhere from trying to appear to swim and not making any forward motion. Some people may not have the ability to keep themselves on top of the water. They may just sink and kind of float there for a while, and so it’s really not a one size fits all,” Johnson added.
Get more information about local pools and aquatic programs at bryantx.gov/parks-and-recreation/pools-and-aquatic-facilities.
