CONNOR CARES FOUNDATION; In Honor of Connor; Drowning Awareness

Statistics

- In 2005, there were 3,582 fatal unintentional drownings in the United States, not including boating-related incidents.

- In 2004, of all children 1-4 years old who died, 26% died from drowning. Fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years.

- Males accounted for 80% of fatal drownings in the United States.

- In 2003, 782 children aged 0-14 years died from drowning.

- A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a moter vehicle to be involved in the death of a child age 5 and under.

- An estimated 5,000 children ages 14 and under are hospitalized due to unintentional drowning-related incidents each year; 15% die in the hospital and as many as 20% suffer severe, permanent neurological disability.

- 1 in 5 children drown in public pools with certified lifeguards present.

- The majority of children who survive (92 percent) are discovered within two minutes following submersion, and most children who die (86 percent) are found after 10 minutes. Nearly all who require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) die or are left with severe brain injury.

- It is estimated that for each drowning death, there are 1 to 4 nonfatal submersions serious enough to result in hospitalization. Children who still require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the time they arrive at the emergency department have a poor prognosis, with at least half of survivors suffering significant neurologic impairment.

Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, Orange County California Fire Authority, Drowning Prevention Foundation, National Safety Council, National Safe Kids Campaign

Mission Statement

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The mission of the Connor Cares Foundation will be to further the education and training of lifesaving personnel at all public and private pools nationwide and to set minimum standards of safety to reduce the annual number of drownings. Furthermore, it will be the foundations goal to introduce legislation that will promote uniformity in lifesaving techniques and reaction times at all pools. Finally, the organization will promote a safety ratings system (1-5 stars) to identify deficiencies and provide parents and guardians a guide as to the safety level of each pool.

Our Work

The Connor Cares Foundation donated it's first defibrillator in summer 2009 to the Waugh Chapel Swim Club in Gambrills, MD. The second pool to recieve a defibrillator was the Belair Bath and Tennis Club in Bowie, MD. The third defibrillator was donated to the Walden Country Club in Crofton, MD. Our goal is to have one at every local pool in Anne Arundel County and eventually nationwide.

The Connor John-James Freed Scholarship Fund has sponsored 40 children in Arlington Echo's Drownproofing Program in Anne Arundel County. The fund provides towels, bathing suits and the cost of the program for children who otherwise could not attend. Our second scholarship fund, "Not One More Child Drowns" helps to support the Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) program and raised over $6000 for the cause. ISR is a program that teaches children 6 months-6 years of age life-saving techniques. Currently in the works is our third program that will benefit the inner-city children of Baltimore. The money raised will go towards swimming lessons, bathing suits, towels, and transportation to and from swim lessons.

The Connor Cares Foundation is currently working with legislators in the area to change Maryland pool safety laws. The Connor Bill will mandate that two lifeguards be up at all times in a public pool 2500 sq. ft or larger. The foundation was featured on Good Morning America in the summer of 2009.