We have enjoyed a mild spring here in Texas County with a few bouts of severe weather.
However, as we head into the summer season, warmer weather is bound to make an appearance, and with it there will be people enjoying swimming and boating activities. As of mid-May, nine juveniles had died in Missouri due to drowning. This includes all types of activities, and we haven’t even hit the peak swimming months yet. Nobody wants to dwell on tragedy but, like a lot of topics in this column, it is worth considering ways to limit the risk of something terrible happening.
When we talk about drowning risk with kids, the first thing that probably comes to mind is swimming accidents, however there are hazards in our homes that we do not think twice about. A small child can drown in only a few inches of water. That means bathtubs, hot tubs, sinks or just about anything in a home could be a hazard for small children. It is important for parents and caregivers to assess these risks and avoid situations where small children have unsupervised access to hazards.
Swimming pools are a known risk but sometimes overlooked as well. When kids are swimming at any pool that does not have an active lifeguard, supervision is recommended, and it is never a good idea for a child to go swim alone without at least another friend around that has access to a phone to call for help if there is a problem. If you own a pool, consider ways to mitigate the risks of unauthorized entry by a child or a pet. Also be mindful that a child may try to follow a pet into a pool or other body of water as well.
Rivers, lakes and other water areas have unique hazards. The rivers in Texas County and the Ozarks can be full of things you can’t see. There may be a swift undercurrent that can take a person underwater or cause them to be trapped against an object. Fallen trees and root wads can trap even strong swimmers if they get caught in the wrong place. Supervision of kids is the key to preventing accidents along with planning ahead to have life preservers available and a plan to rescue someone that is in trouble.
Kids are not the only people that drown, many adults die each year due to drowning as well. Adults should consider the risks of consuming alcohol while on the water and be aware of the hidden hazards as well. I know this information differs from the usual positive tone for this column, but my hope is that it helps with awareness and we can avoid responding to a tragedy.
In the month of May, the sheriff and deputies responded to many calls for service and created written reports for the following call types:
- Domestic Assault – 12
- Stealing – 10Â
- Warrant Arrest – 7
- Traffic Offense – 6
- Death Investigation – 5
- Animal Complaint – 5
- Mental Health – 4
- Harassment – 3
- Weapons Violation – 2
- Property Damage – 2
- Sex Offense – 2
- Agency Assist
- Child Abuse
- Failure To Register As Sex Offender
- Juvenile Issue
- Peace Disturbance
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Educational Neglect
- Abandoned VehicleÂ