Summer on the Water: Tips for Staying Safe

In June 2006, 5-year-old Connor Freed died when he drowned in a community pool in Crofton. Lifeguards were on duty at staffing levels required by state law, but according to Connor's parents, the staffing ratios were not enough to keep Connor safe.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Connor's parents founded the Connor Cares Foundation to try to change Maryland laws, provide swimming lessons for under-privileged children and provide pools with defibrillators, which can jump start a person's heart after a near-drowning.

According to Debbie Naegle-Freed, mother to Connor and founder of Connor Cares, the foundation hopes to raise money each year to provide defibrillators to public and semi-public pools.

The Crofton pool where Connor died had a defibrillator, but the staff was not trained in how to use the device.

Each device costs a couple thousand dollars. The foundation ensures that lifeguards are trained in how to use the machines. The specific kind of machine that is fully automated, so even without training a novice or bystander can use it.

When powered up, the device "talks" the user through each step of the process. In addition, the defibrillator will not produce a shock if a heartbeat is detected.

Freed said the goal is to provide a defibrillator to every local pool in Anne Arundel County and eventually nationwide.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

●      Drowning kills, on average, 10 people each day in the United States.

●      In 2007, among unintentional deaths of children between the ages of 1 and 4, 30 percent died from drowning.

●      Drowning remains the second-leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14.

Practicing Water Safety

There are several ways to keep your family safe during the swimming season, here is more from the CDC:

●      Enroll children in formal swimming lessons. Even children who have taken lessons should not be permitted to swim alone.

●      Always supervise children at the pool, even when a lifeguard is on duty. Most pools require the "touch" rule for very young children and preschoolers. Caregivers should be close enough to touch a young swimmer at all times.

●      Never swim alone (even as an adult). Use the buddy system and, when possible, swim at lifeguard-protected beaches.

●      Learn CPR. In the time it takes for EMTs or paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could save a life.

●      Do not substitute water toys (rings, inner tubes, noodles) for U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices.

●      Avoid drinking alcohol while supervising children around the water.

If You Have a Pool in Your Backyard

●      Install four-sided fencing.

●      Keep the pool deck cleared of toys, which can be tempting to little ones.

Around Natural Bodies of Water

●      Know local weather conditions and forecasts before swimming or boating.

●      Use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets when boating.

●      Obey warnings represented by colored beach flags.

●      Watch for dangerous waves and signs of rip currents. If you get caught in a rip current, swim parallel to shore until free of the current and then swim to shore.