Parent who lost child urges swimming pool safety
By HEATHER ROTH Staff writer
The Capital Gazette
Published May 23rd, 2009

As summer unofficially begins this weekend and many area pools open for the season, Debbie Neagle-Freed is thinking of Connor.

Her 5-year-old son drowned three years ago at the Crofton Country Club.

Neagle-Freed and the organization she founded the summer after his death, the Connor Cares Foundation, held a pool-safety event Monday night in the auditorium at Crofton Meadows Elementary School.

"Tonight's purpose is to bring this problem to the forefront and prevent another tragedy, so that we can all have a safe and happy summer," she said. "It was really important that this event was held before pools open up."

But a new federal law designed to protect children in pools is expected to keep as many as 45 of the 229 outdoor county pools from opening this weekend, officials said. Inspectors were still checking pools last night.

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act requires public pools and spas to install drain covers or other upgrades that prevent people from being trapped or injured, and county health inspectors said not all pools are ready.

"There are a number of them that have not yet come into compliance," said Kerry Topovski, director of environmental health for the county Health Department. "We anticipate there will be some that will not meet these Memorial Day weekend deadlines."

Notices will be posted at any pool that cannot open due to the new law, Topovski said.

To remind people to be vigilant around pools, the foundation shared a video of photos of children who have drowned interspersed with drowning statistics and facts.

The foundation's research found that:

Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death among children younger than 15.

Most victims were being supervised by one or both parents when they drowned.

Nearly three-quarters of victims had been missing five minutes or less.

"We're trying to bring about awareness about drowning statistics (and) how preventable drowning is," Neagle-Freed said.

Various speakers offered advice or shared their experiences on Monday night. Tracey Hurst, an Infant Swimming Resource instructor, stressed the importance of teaching young children how to survive in the water.

"In my opinion, Infant Swimming Resource is a layer of defense against the epidemic of childhood drowning," she said. "The techniques give parents a few critical minutes to find and rescue (their child)."

Hurst works with infants as young as 6 months, teaching them to roll onto their backs and float in the water until someone finds them. She is currently teaching Neagle-Freed's 15-month-old daughter.

"ISR takes the panic and fear out of the situation," Hurst said. "Nothing is a replacement for adult supervision."

Dr. Debra Hardy-Cartwright gave an infant CPR demonstration at Monday's event, and Cheryl-Anne DeHart of Cardiac Science and Rachel Moyer, founder of Parent Heart Watch, gave a defibrillator demonstration.

Defibrillators are particularly important to Mary Becker, whose son, James, nearly drowned in a pool in Pikesville in July 2007.

James, then a healthy 15-year-old, went into cardiac arrest in 12 feet of water. Now, he cannot communicate or manage even simple movements like clapping.

"Had a defibrillator been at the pool, James would not have suffered," she said. "His body and mind would not be locked inside."

Becker is working with Sen. Katherine Klausmeier, D-Baltimore County, to pass a law requiring all public pools in Maryland to have a defibrillator on hand.

Del. James King, R-Gambrills, also spoke at the event about the bill he has sponsored for the past two years.

Called Connor's Bill, it would require any public pool larger than 2,500 square feet to have two lifeguards on duty at all times.

"It's impossible for one person, often 15, 16, 17 years old, to monitor the pool," he said. "This is a safety bill."

Besides the obvious dangers of drowning, the state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene also warns of swimming-related illnesses. This week was National Recreational Water Illness Prevention Week.

"Now is the perfect time to call attention to steps you can take to stay healthy while enjoying water-related activities," DHMH Secretary John M. Colmers said in a release.

To avoid water-related illnesses, those swimming in public pools should avoid swallowing pool water; change children's diapers away from the pool; and shower before swimming.

Health officials also reminded pool owners never to mix different chlorine products with each other, acid or other substances, and suggested using gloves and safety glasses when handling chlorine.

Staff writer Pamela Wood contributed to this report.