Toddler drowning deaths prompt safety reminders

May 12--Child-safety advocates have some advice for area residents after the drowning deaths of two toddlers this week.

"The biggest thing is that parents don't recognize the seriousness of the threat drowning poses," said Tankeeya Butts, executive director of the Josh Project, which offers swim lessons and promotes water safety for young people. "They don't think it could happen to them. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4."

Defiance police say a 2-year-old girl drowned Thursday evening. She was found unresponsive in a home and later pronounced dead at Defiance Regional Medical Center. Police declined Friday to provide additional information, and the case remains under investigation.

On Monday, a 2-year-old Temperance boy drowned in his grandparents' built-in Sylvania Township pool, despite having a pool cover and a fence around it, according to Sylvania Township police.

Children can drown in pools of all types and sizes, natural and man-made bodies of water, and inside the home in bathtubs, toilets, or something as simple as a bucket with a little fluid in the bottom, Ms. Butts said.

Laura Chagin, a registered nurse and member of the Safe Kids of Greater Toledo coalition, is the pediatric trauma manager at ProMedica Children's Hospital. She said the hospital sees a handful of cases each year of drowning or near drowning.

"Cases with drownings in ponds, home pools, and hotel pools are the three main ones," she said. "It's usually something that happened very fast."

Ms. Chagin recommended teaching children to swim from a very early age.

"As early as possible, get them in swim lessons," she said. "It's never too early. Even at 6 months, you can start getting them comfortable in water."

But swim lessons alone aren't enough. A child's swimming skills may not be sufficient for the circumstances and can actually give both parents and children a false sense of security or confidence.

"I really implore parents not to think that just because your son or daughter has had swim lessons that they are safe," Ms. Butts said. "You need to be your child's lifeguard, and you have to be actively supervising and not on your cell phone. Never leave them unattended."

Installing multiple barriers and warning systems, when possible, is also important. Many municipalities, including Toledo, require pools be fenced with locked gates. Ensuring pool covers, fencing, and other barriers are properly maintained and secured is crucial. There are also various alarm systems that can be used both in pools and on doors leading to pools, Ms. Butts said.

"Drowning doesn't look like drowning and it can happen as quickly as 30 seconds," she said. "And it's silent. You cannot yell for help when you have water in your nose and mouth."

Life jackets can be used anywhere, and are particularly important around bodies of water like ponds, rivers, and lakes where barriers are not possible. Even if a child isn't in the water, the jacket provides extra insurance should something happen.

"It's quick, easy protection," Ms. Butts said. "And not floaties, which don't do anything. A U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket that fits properly" and is fully zipped or buckled.

Contact Alexandra Mester at: amester@theblade.com, 419-724-6066, or on Twitter @AlexMesterBlade.

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