Three things to help parents prevent swimming deaths
By Carrie Coppernoll
Published: June 10, 2006
Two drownings in one week. A 12-year-old Oklahoma City boy died June 3 at Lake Thunderbird. A 7-year-old girl died in an Oklahoma City pool May 29.
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Lakes and pools are a natural summertime draw, and because swimming is so common, we forget it can be dangerous. Parents should be scared out of complacency. Kids need three things: supervision, floatation and swimming skills.
Supervision. Nine people drown in America every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Toddlers and teens are the most likely age groups to drown.
Annie Pettigrew of Choctaw almost lost her little girl in their backyard pool last May. Many adults are unaware how quickly things can go wrong, she said.
"It just happens so fast, by the time you find them," she said, "they're dead, or they're dead and then resuscitated."
Her daughter, Isabelle, is now 3 and still recovering from the brain damage caused by her near-drowning. The family is hosting a benefit carnival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 24 at the Nicoma Park Community Center, 2221 Nichols Drive. Proceeds will help pay medical bills.
Floatation. Lt. Doug DeRyckere of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said he's heard all kinds of pitiful excuses from adults about why they don't wear (or even have) life jackets on their boats. Manly men don't need life jackets. Life jackets ruin tan lines. Hauling them around is inconvenient.
"Adults get to drinking and they don't think that they need lifejackets," he said.
There's no excuse, especially for children and especially when swimming in an unknown area. When your kids give you the common gripes, here are your answers: Not stylish? Decorate it. Not comfortable? Trade in the orange around-the-neck vests for a jacket. Not cool? If you're with your parents, it's futile to look cool.
Swimming skills. My dad and uncle taught me to swim when I was a toddler. But if putting family in charge of life lessons is as scary as putting them in charge of your love life, take your kids to swim class. Here are some options:
Oklahoma City: Carson Pool, 8303 S Villa.; Douglass Pool, 900 Frederick Douglass Ave.; Earlywine Aquatic Center, SW 119 and May Avenue; Foster Indoor Pool, 614 NE 4; Macklanburg Pool, 11700 N Stratford; Minnis Lakeview Pool, 12518 NE 36; Northeast Pool, 1220 NE 33; Schilling Pool, 537 SE 25; Will Rogers Aquatic Center, 3201 N Grand Ave.; and Woodson Pool, 3405 S May Ave. Lessons are $20.
Midwest City: Reno Swim & Slide, 101 S Douglas. Lessons are $35.
Moore: Moore Community Pool, 630 NW 5. Lessons are $30.
