KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
May 28, 2019
By Jennifer Miko and Natalie Cook Clark
Memorial Day celebrations turned into terrifying reminders about the dangers of young children near swimming pools. In separate incidents, two toddlers were found unresponsive in backyard pools.
Last night, a two-year-old girl was found unresponsive in a backyard pool in the Windstone Colony subdivision. The toddler was discovered by another young child who alerted adults who were inside the home. One of the adults performed CPR before the EMS arrived. The two-year-old was then taken to Texas Children's Hospital in Katy and listed in critical condition.
Deputies got the call about the second near drowning a few miles away on Paintbrush Dawn Court in the Morton Creek Ranch subdivision. The Harris County Sheriff's Office said guests discovered the two-year-old submerged and unresponsive in the hot tub next to the pool. The homeowner administered CPR.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, HCSO, said the child was in critical condition and transported to Texas Children's Hospital.
Sheriff Gonzalez tweeted last night: "For pool parties, don’t assume everyone is watching, cause undoubtedly no one is. Have a designated pool watcher to keep an eye on swimmers at all times. This should be a responsible adult who will not become distracted."
Texas Has the Most Child Drownings According to Poolsafety.gov, the state of Texas is tied with Florida for having the most child drownings each year. Drowning remains the number one unintentional cause of death for children in the U.S. ages one to four, and the second leading cause among children ages five to 14.
Important Pool Safety Reminders:
Learn CPR. Parents and child care providers should know CPR.
Supervise. Never leave children unsupervised near a pool, hot tub or natural body of water. During gatherings, adults who know how to swim, and aren't distracted, can take turns being the "designated watcher."
Hire a lifeguard to help out at parties.
Don't count on an inflatable toy, or floatie - using a swim jacket in the pool or floaties on the arms is not a reason not to watch a child.
Teach children to swim. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children age four and older can learn to swim. Children ages one to four might be able to learn depending on their physical and emotional development. Swimming lessons, however, don't necessarily prevent drowning and aren't a substitute for adult supervision.
Avoid alcohol. Don't drink alcohol when you are boating, swimming or supervising children who are swimming.