When my son Zachary drowned in our backyard, I didn’t expect that 15 years later, in the midst of a global pandemic and severe shortage of rescuers, his younger brother Henry would enter work as a rescuer. . Henry is now in the line of first responding to water safety, and his new position serves as an important living reminder of Zachary’s 21st birthday.
I am still full of emotion when I remember the horrible day in 2007, the day that changed our lives forever. Every traumatic detail will be etched in my memory: the smell of chlorine, the reflection of the sun at noon in the pool, the sweaty moisture, the penetrating scream. The excitement of my son’s drowning receded in a wave of intense and unexplained pain.
It was a scary July afternoon, just two months after the birth of our fourth child, Sydney. We just moved into our dream home and the family was swimming and playing in our new back pool. Zachary, then 6, showed off his swimming skills (thanks to a great program at a summer camp). We did not know that there would be an unexpected tragedy that would occur beyond our imagination.
We believe we will do everything to protect the safety of our family. The pool fully complies with city safety codes requiring fences and door alarms for entrances to the pool area. Our children took swimming lessons; They are strong and comfortable in the water and are always carefully monitored.
We didn’t know that the pool drainage cover was broken and loose, removing the barrier between the bathers and a powerful vacuum pump capable of pumping hundreds of pounds of water. Immediately, a strong suction from the exhaust caught Zachary’s arm and caught him underwater. We couldn’t get it out until we turned off the electricity in the pool.
A few months before he died, we were tired of our loss. We try to understand and ask ourselves how we can recover as a family and the meaning of a young life that has been unfairly interrupted. The more we learn Water Safety Statistics – It’s choking The leading cause of accidental death It’s the second leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 4 and for children under 14 – and we know we want to prevent other families from dying from drowning a child.
Inspired by Zaccaria, we formed the ZAC Foundation a few years later. Over the past decade, the foundation has provided free swimming camps for more than 20,000 children nationwide (mostly in cities), provided grants for water safety education and research, and facilitated partnerships with four floor. of drowning prevention. Large cities. Notably, the ZAC Foundation contributed to the National Development Water Safety Action Plan, designed to educate everyone (from homeowners to water center staff) of best practices to promote safety. in the water and prevent drowning. Our whole family was involved from day one on this journey to lay the foundation. So it is not surprising that Henry claimed, at my suggestion, that he was a savior in “everything”.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began, according to the American Rescue Association, there have been 40% to 50% staff shortages in swimming pools nationwide. These are high -paying jobs that require skill and talent. I am convinced that Henry – a very strong and experienced swimmer and someone who understands the importance of water safety – will be an experienced lifeguard.
On the first day of training, Henry had to dive to the bottom, remove the bricks and swim with him to the shallow end. Although he was strong and practiced sports, he found it difficult to do so and at least two of his classmates did not complete the task. When Henry came home and told us about the training, we couldn’t help but wonder if we had made the right decision. Will she be able to cope with the physical stiffness and emotional stress of this job? And can we?
Obtaining a security certificate has not been easy. Henry nearly lost his sister’s eighth grade because of his life-saving training. But he persevered, got a certificate and was accepted for a pool in our community. He was hyper vigilant from the start.
On the first day of his time at the pool, he surprised his colleagues and supervisors by actively asking them to start using safety equipment. For Henry, water safety is not an abstraction. This is immediately true. He fully understood the importance of safety training and safe pool management.
As statistics show, drowning accidents always happen, even when many safety measures are taken. It is very easy (even common) for a parent or guardian to be distracted while watching small children play on the playground and, worse, trying to keep an eye on older children in the main pool. Happens!
For rescuers, unexpected dangers are lurking everywhere. Many pools are crowded and it can be difficult to keep track of hidden children. In large pools, the views are often obscured by columns and curves. Flickering in the water can mask the danger. And distractions for rescuers can be very dangerous.
Despite warnings from well-meaning friends in the drowning prevention movement, the shortcomings and dangers (emotional and so on) did not go unnoticed by Henry. I am deeply saddened by his seriousness and courage, because of the tragedy Zaccaria and I have experienced.
At the end of the summer, Henry was rescued when he offered to help an old gentleman as he climbed the pool stairs. The man abruptly declined the offer, but Henry stayed there to make sure the man could keep his foot safe.
No family should suffer the loss of a child. When a parent approaches me, out of fear and compassion, they often ask me how to learn from Zachary’s loss and avoid it for them. We share easy-to-remember essential tools like ABCDs for drowning prevention.
There can always be AThe dult is represented by eye contact with a child while swimming. B.Fences and gates are important to restrict children’s access to water. Families must be registered C.Lessons – Swimming lessons for children and CPR training for adults. D.Rainwater should be checked regularly for cracks and/or loose cover. And save a worthy life D.Life jackets or devices approved by the U.S. Coast Guard must always be worn in open water.
After the devastating loss of our family, I never thought that my other children would take control of what became the business of my life. Henry may not know what will hit me when he accepts the bailout, but I am very proud of his decision. Her willingness to be vulnerable and avoid trauma for our family was a source of strength and hope.
On Zachary’s 21st birthday, I look back and appreciate the lessons in life and the opportunity to hopefully avoid the tragic loss of others.
Karen Connie founded the ZAC Foundation in 2008 with her husband Brian Connie, after their 6 -year -old son Zachary Archer Connie drowned when his hand hit the pool drain. Zachary’s memory is the inspiration for the foundation’s mission and activity. The ZAC Foundation has funded free water safety and swimming camps for more than 20,000 at-risk children in communities across the country and is implementing drowning prevention plans in four U.S. communities in hopes reduce the national drowning rate. In her role at the ZAC Foundation, Karen testified before congressional subcommittees and state and federal agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She writes on water safety issues for the mainstream media and is also the Northeast Trustee of the American Boys and Girls Clubs.
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I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.