ST LOUIS (KMOX) - In September 1982, Lisa and Kimbal McMullin lost their almost 2-year-old son, Nicholas, when he fell into a pool and drowned. There were eight adults around, yet no one saw him in time. Kimbal, an ex-Navy Diver, tried to resuscitate him, Nicholas was taken to the hospital, but never regained consciousness.
Almost 40 years later, the McMullins started the SWIM ON Foundation to help raise awareness about drowning and about the ways to prevent it.
With the arrival of Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer, local experts fear an increase in drowning fatalities and injuries. Drowning is already the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, significantly ahead of motor vehicle accidents, and second for children ages 5 to 9. Teens have the second highest rate of drowning. For every drowning that is fatal, another five children go to emergency rooms; half of those are admitted for further care, and many have life-changing outcomes.
Lisa McMullin, co-founder and board president of the SWIM ON Foundation, a not-for-profit that is working to raise awareness in the St. Louis metropolitan area of drowning risk and prevention.
“With a number of public pools not opening, and with summer camps not operating, we are concerned that kids will seek out places to swim that do not have the supervision of community pools or camps, such as ponds, creeks, rivers and lakes, as well as private pools, inflatable pools, or above-ground pools," McMullin says. "During this pandemic, families will have children at home 24-7. Many parents may be distracted as they continue to work from home, leaving children bored, and hot - and possibly at risk.”
“Fortunately, drowning is preventable,” says Emily Wujcik, Aquatics and Safety Coordinator at St. Louis University. “Use the five layers of protection to keep kids S-A-F-E-R: S - Swim lessons, A - Adult supervision, F - Fences (and locks and alarms), E - Emergency response, and R - Regulation flotation.”
Birch McMullin, owner of British Swim School in St. Louis, says swim lessons can reduce drowning by as much as 88% according to a study but, unfortunately, many children will not have access to swim lessons this summer, and a number who have had lessons will have regressed.
“Many parents, good parents, are not aware of the risks of drowning, what it looks like, or the ways to prevent it,” says Stephane McCormick, Owner and Director of St. Louis based Backyard Lifeguards, and National Drowning Prevention Alliance 2018 Lifesaver of the Year.
Amy Boyd, Aquatics Supervisor for the City of Des Peres, says parents should be aware of the dangers.
“Drowning is fast and it is silent. Paying 100% attention when a child is in or near the water is critical. Drowning victims don’t cry out and seconds count," Boyd says. "That said, the majority of young children who drown were not expected to be in the pool; almost half had last been seen in the house. Therefore the other four layers of protection are also critical.”
She encourages parents and caregivers to learn the facts and the five ways they can protect their families this summer.
To learn more, visit The SWIM ON Foundation website at www.SwimOnFoundation.org.