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Drowning...It Only Takes a Second

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Home Stager

Drowning...It Only Takes a Second

 

This morning I read that there had been another drowning in Harris County, Texas. It seems that there has been one every weekend since theswimming beginning of summer, and in fact, sadly I read that Harris County leads Texas in the number of child drownings in 2019. 

 

This has to stop!

 

Even if your children know how to swim and may even be considered excellent swimmers please take these precautions…

 

*Never let anyone swim alone.

*DO NOT take your eyes off of a swimmer for even a second.

*If you are going to a water park, make sure there are enough eyes in your group to keep an eye on all of the children.

*Check the locks on your doors so that wee ones cannot go out when you’re not looking.

*Have an alarm system for your pool that can detect movement in the water when you are not there.

*Place a barricade around the pool for extra protection. 

 

Arm yourself …

*Have a First Aid Kit handy that is geared towards your pool. 

*Take a course in CPR and have others in your household trained. 

 

Know the signs of drowning…

 

 

The Instinctive Drowning Response

Contrary to what we see in the movies or on television, a person who is drowning does not call out for help or flail their arms about. 

 

Dry Drowning 

Usually occurs immediately after someone has taken in water through the nose or mouth and it causes a spasm in the airway. This is noticeable after the occurrence.

 

Secondary Drowning

May not present for 24 hours after a person has ingested water. The water goes into the lungs and can cause inflammation or swelling making it difficult to breathe. 

 

Please...let’s try to put a stop to this!

 

 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

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Comments (38)
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Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Kathy,
It is always sad to hear about any drowning and the drowning of a child is particularly heartbreaking.  When I think back on my own childhood, I guess I'm lucky to be alive.  We learned to swim at a very young age but did swim unattended quite often.  Even the city pool only had one lifeguard and I can't imagine how they truly kept an eye on everyone from their perch.  

Jul 23, 2019 08:59 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hi Kathy it breaks my heart to hear of yet another child drowning. I have been preaching water safety for many many years. We are hyper-vigilant when we have folks over for a pool party - especially kids, even tho they know how to swim.  We have a pool disclosure with every sale and it's so important to explain to each and every client what they must do to make their pool and yard compliant. Like you said - it can happen in an instant.

Jul 23, 2019 09:44 AM
Pat Champion
John Roberts Realty - Eustis, FL
Call the "CHAMPION" for all your real estate needs

Great post and information to share; especially, this time of the year.

Jul 23, 2019 10:19 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Those are all great reminders, Kathy.  Pool safety (or water safety) is important to learn and understand.

Jul 23, 2019 12:00 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sheila Anderson it is so sad to think of that little life that stops right there. 

Nina Hollander These are kinds of drowning that it's important to know. 

Sham Reddy CRS those water parks are particularly hard because it's hard to watch every child. 

Jul 23, 2019 12:17 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Thank you Wayne Martin hope that your week is going well. 

Michael Jacobs it only takes a minute. Our friend's daughter has been swimming since she was 3 but once almost drowned with adults sitting within 10 feet of the pool. 

Jul 23, 2019 12:23 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Barbara Todaro the safety fence is a good idea for keeping the kids out.  So important to keep your eyes on them. 

RE Virtual Solutions you're so right. I see this at the beach and the pool all of the time. 

Jul 23, 2019 12:26 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sharon Lee That IS scary. I'm sure that's a memory you will not forget. 

Grant Schneider making sure a child cannot leave the house is so important. It seems like often the child goes missing and they are later found in the pool. 

Beth Atalay you were fortunate to have both parents who were swimmers and divers. When we've had homes with pools I was amazed at how some of our friends were off talking and assuming others would be watching their children. 

 

Jul 23, 2019 12:30 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

faye schubert I agree! That's another one to be cautious of.

Ron and Alexandra Seigel my niece took her two sons to a water park Sunday for a birthday party but left her daughter with my sister-in-law knowing it would be too hard to keep an eye on all three children. 

Jul 23, 2019 12:33 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Marte Cliff when we boated we had life jackets that were like suspenders and would inflate if you fell in. They were less cumbersome than the typical life jacket. And it's a good way to get adult boaters, especially those who fish, to wear a floatation device. 

Jul 23, 2019 12:35 PM
Marte Cliff

Yes, we bought one for our fisherman son and nag him about wearing it. Now I'm nagging him to buy one for his dog.

Jul 23, 2019 12:46 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Brian England I'm glad that AZ has strict laws regarding pools!!!! 

George Souto most cities and states have laws about a locked fence around your yard if you have a pool, as well as how high it needs to be. It's such a shame when people don't use common sense. 

Jul 23, 2019 12:38 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty you were a good and smart dad. You have to take responsibility. 

Will Hamm I agree. I don't think adults should swim alone either. 

 Sheri Sperry - MCNE® that sounds like an excellent idea about having one adult watch the pool and switch them out. 

 

Jul 23, 2019 12:41 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Carol Williams I agree...it's amazing that you and I are still around. We had private beach property that the whole family would go to. No lifeguards and all of the grandkids were in the ocean. 

Anna Banana Kruchten CRB, CRS 602-380-4886 love what you do with the pool disclosure. I was on a consultation once and my client and I were sitting on the sofa talking. Within minutes, her little toddler was about to go out the door to the pool! Can you imagine what could have happened?! 

Jul 23, 2019 12:45 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Pat Champion It is so sad waking up and reading about a child drowning every weekend. 

Myrl Jeffcoat the pool is not a babysitter!!! Right!!??!!

Jul 23, 2019 12:47 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Kathy - Carol Williams's comment made me think of my Grandmother. When she was a little girl - about 6 or 7 - her dad was working out-of-state and her mother worked at a resort on the lake.

She was on her own while her mother worked, and wanted in the water, so someone cut a Cedar log for her to use to paddle around with.

That would have been about 1893 - a far different life than we live now.

Jul 23, 2019 12:53 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Kathy.

My eyes were focused elsewhere, no ma'am I did not see it until the last second

Jul 24, 2019 01:25 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

It's scary how quickly drowning can happen! Thanks for posting these tips.

Jul 24, 2019 01:07 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

It is absolutely senseless. :( Around here, it's the river currents that get young swimmers. Also senseless, precaution and having a huge respect for the dangers of water is something we all need to really get in our head. D 

Jul 27, 2019 09:01 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Kathy:

It’s a shame this sort of post has to be written but the reminder is such a good one. We hear far to many stories about drownings and they can all be prevented.

Jeff

Jul 28, 2019 12:10 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect
John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

Yes, terrible to hear ANYONE would drown in a pool!  Thanks for the valuable information.  So MANY things to keep sharp about: Driving, swimming, power tools, guns, watching all preteens at every moment to make sure they are not getting into trouble or even liable to get lost or stolen!!  Thank you.

Jul 28, 2019 03:11 PM
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