MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -
A 6 year-old boy found unresponsive in a pool at the Courtyard Citiflats Apartments in Montgomery has died. The boy's grandmother, Rosie Lee Arrington, who was also found unresponsive in the pool, died on Tuesday.
The boy's death is sign of an unfortunate national trend. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that across the country, 90 children have died in pools since Memorial Day. Those children were all age 15 or younger and early 75% were younger than age five. More than a hundred others nearly drowned.
For those thinking of installing backyard pools, experts recommend the installation of high walls or fences to make it more difficult for children to get in accidentally. They also advise homeowners spend money on a pool alarm system.
"Please do your homework," said Bobby Ducat, a pool retailer. "Talk to a professional, talk to the manufacturer make sure it's a reliable unit."
Whether you have a backyard pool or not, make sure you have swim vests or inflatables any time you go swimming. In the end, your two eyes may be your best safety tool.
"Nothing, nothing, nothing is more important than parental supervision or the buddy system to make sure no one is ever in the swimming pool alone," Ducat said.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is sponsoring Pool Safety days this week, a push to remind consumers of the importance of pool safety. More information on the topic can be found here.
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