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 Three boys, all age 15, drowned the first weekend in June. Twin brothers Justin and Jesse Starkey, 15, lived in Alton. Matthew B. Jones, lived near New Melle, and died on his fifteenth birthday. The twin brothers could barely swim, and Jones, according to officials, became tired after swimming in a private pond at his home.
Stephen Hall, communications specialist with the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter, said statistics show the majority of drownings occur with children under the age of 5 and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24.
“With the young adults, often times they come into a new swimming season overestimating their swimming skills,” Hall said. “They expect their skills to be the same as when they left the water last September.”
The National Safety Council Report on Injuries in America for 2003 stated that drowning was the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury deaths. In 2003, 2,900 people drowned.
As with most safety issues, training is the key to preparedness. Last year, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter trained 37,000 individuals in life guard certification and learn-to-swim courses. Water acclamation classes begin for infants as young as 6 months.
“Take courses as a family,” Hall said. “Swim lessons are a necessity, a must-have life skill.”
Hall said the most important message is that children should always be supervised.
“Swim with a buddy, but always in a lifeguard supervised area,” he said. “Many drownings happen in the presence of someone else, but drowning is often a silent disaster, because the drowning victim cannot call for help.”
Many agencies, including the National Safety Council and the American Red Cross, state that everyone should wear U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets. Inflatable water wings and tubes are not approved personal flotation devices. Even with U.S. Coast Guard approved PFDs, supervision is needed.
Leslie Foran, executive director of the Safety Council of Greater St. Louis, said the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), reminds people to stay out of surface mines and gravel pits filled with water.
“That water, as with ponds, lakes and rivers, is dirty and murky water,” Foran said. “Each year there are tragedies in these areas. Even if you are an Olympic swimmer, your leg can be caught in a vine or you can be hit on the head while in the water. Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices are imperative.”
The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter gave the following guidelines for general water safety:
• Always swim with a buddy and never alone.
• Read and obey all rules and posted signs.
• Swim in areas that are supervised by a lifeguard.
• Children or inexperienced swimmers should take extra precautions and wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.
• Set water safety rules for your family based on swimming abilities.
• Be knowledgeable of your water environment and its potential hazards.
• Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies by seeking proper training.
• Use a feet-first entry when entering the water.
• Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving or boating.
Hall reminds parents that drownings can occur at home pools, even kiddie pools, and bathtubs.
“It’s so important that you prepare your home not only for your own children, but for children that may wander in,” he said. “Red Cross recommends a self-closing, self-latching gate. Post rules and enforce them at all times at your own home pool and always supervise the children. We offer CPR and First Aid courses along with our learn-to-swim courses. Our goal is to have at least one person in every family across the country trained in CPR and First Aid.”
Hall said he hears stories about people who have been supervising their children poolside, but then step into the home for a few seconds to answer a phone.
“Have the phone poolside so that you don’t have to leave your children, and post the emergency numbers outside so that you never have to leave,” he said.
For more information about water safety, or to register for a learn-to-swim or CPR and First Aid course, visit the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter at www.redcrossstl.org, or call 314.516.2800.
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