Over Memorial Day weekend, 21 people across the nation drowned — and at least 16 of them were children 5 or younger, said Kathleen Reilly, who tracks such statistics for the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Police mum on Auburn drowning Citing the family’s wishes, Auburn police declined Friday to identify the 2-year-old who drowned Thursday in a backyard pool. Auburn...
Over Memorial Day weekend, 21 people across the nation drowned — and at least 16 of them were children 5 or younger, said Kathleen Reilly, who tracks such statistics for the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
Police mum on Auburn drowning
Citing the family’s wishes, Auburn police declined Friday to identify the 2-year-old who drowned Thursday in a backyard pool.
Auburn Police Chief Gary J. Giannotta referred a reporter to the news release the department sent out Thursday and said it contains all the details the department is making available.
The release states that police were sent at 7:14 a.m. Thursday to a Mary Street residence because of a report of an unresponsive child. Police said they were investigating the incident as an accidental drowning.On Friday, Reilly said that each year, 300 children under 5 drown in pools. While emphasizing that nothing takes the place of adult supervision around pools, she acknowledged that a toddler can get away from the most observant parent. Reilly stressed that if a child goes missing, adults should first check any nearby pools. Minutes count when a child is submerged, she said.
The CPSC provides the following tips and information to help people secure their pools and prevent accidents:
• A 4-foot fence or wall must completely surround a pool. State and local codes may have specific requirements for the fencing, so check with local authorities.
• All gates or doors leading from the house to the pool area should have a self-closing, self-latching mechanism that prevent unauthorized entry and use. The latch should be 54 inches high, above the reach of small children. Alarms may also be placed on the doors and gates.
• Objects, such as chairs, that could be used to climb over the fence, should not be placed in the pool area.
• Since 2006, state law has mandated that any new or substantially modified pool have an alarm that can detect a child in the water. Reilly said alarms are good, but they can be annoying. Also, she noted, people sometimes turn them off and forget to turn them on again.
• If a pool cover is used, follow the manufacturer’s directions for safe installation, use and maintenance. Completely remove the cover before using the pool, to avoid anyone becoming trapped under it.