Drowning Victim’s Parents Warn About Pool Dangers

From BALTIMORE (WJZ)  July 20 2009

Drowning–it’s how dozens of Marylanders die every year.  In children 14 and under, it’s the second leading cause of accidental death.  Denise Koch investigates why it keeps happening and what one victim’s family is doing to prevent it.

“I kissed him goodbye.  I told him I loved him,” said Debbie Freed.  “Connor fell in the pool and they’re working on him.  It’s silent.  It’s not kicking and splashing like you see on TV.”

It only takes a moment, and in that moment, a young life was lost.

Connor Freed was five years old when he drowned at the Crofton Country Club in June 2006.  He was with family friends.

“Maybe five minutes went by with him being unnoticed,” Freed said.

Then a child spotted Connor floating in the busy pool.  To this day, why Connor drowned remains a mystery to his parents, Debbie and Tom Freed.

“He was actually very good in the water,” Tom Freed said.

“Another patron of the pool came over, did mouth to mouth.  He threw up and a lot of water came out,” said Debbie.  “Then a lifeguard started performing CPR on him.”

Someone called 911, but the lifeguards were not allowed to use a defibrillator.

“I think it would have restarted his heart,” Debbie said.

In addition, there was only one lifeguard watching the pool when Connor drowned.

“He was about 100 feet to the right of the lifeguard in the chair and there was no way that you could see to that area of the pool,” Debbie said.

In fact, one in five children who drown do so in a public pool with a certified lifeguard present.  Current law requires one lifeguard for every 50 swimmers.

“This one for 50 ratio has got to change,” said Debbie.

So the Freeds have made it their mission to change Maryland law.

“I promised him after this happened that I would honor him, that Mommy would do things to change things and I was not going to let this happen to another family,” she said.

They’re pushing for two bills to pass next session.  One would require more lifeguards.  Specifically, pools larger than 2,500 square feet would need at least two lifeguards.  The other bill would require every public pool to have a defibrillator that lifeguards are trained to use.

Mary and Bill Becker believe if it had been used on their healthy, athletic son when he nearly drowned three years ago, he would not be in a wheelchair now.  Instead, James’ brain, deprived of oxygen, suffered debilitating damage.

And a moment’s failure can break a heart–and a family–forever.

“It’s preventable,” Debbie said.

“It’s brutal to hold your five-year-old son in your arms, knowing he’s gone,” Tom said.

Both bills will be re-introduced to Maryland lawmakers in January.  In the past, funding for more lifeguards and defibrillators has been the challenge.  Sponsors argue you can’t put a price on saving a life.

Our thanks to Denise Koch of Baltimore WJZ

Watch this video about distracted lifeguards.  From ABC News.

Tagged as: swimming pool drowning