Pool Safety

Last week Reitz High School student Dustin Chism drowned in a west side lake and this weekend, 18 year old Walter Ayala, of Washington, Indiana died after he jumped into a quarry, and never resurfaced. Even though swimming is a fun summer activity, it can also be deadly. These tragic deaths have sparked some fear in parents. We spoke with many kids and their parents about the excitement about the pools opening. And although lifeguards will be on duty, some parents say for their childrens safety, thats not enough. Rita Jordan is a mother of two active kids. "They play at the pool every summer, but Im always there, at any age, you never know what could happen." The familys been taking trips to the river and the pool since she can remember. And although she considers them great swimmers, she says you can never be too careful. Owner of Foxxx Pools, Bob Seibert, agrees. Each time his company builds a pool, he says one of the most important pieces of information he passes along is pool safety. Dont dive into shallow water, dont swim alone, dont swim under the influence of drugs or alcohol and dont run near the water. Its all spelled out for swimmers, yet sometimes those common rules are overlooked. According to the Center for Disease Control, nine people drown per day in the U.S. And many of those deaths happen in pools with certified life guards. Seibert says teaching kids to swim early is key. It wont prevent every accident from happening though, like drowning victim Dustin Chism, who was described as a good athlete and fine swimmer. But its still important to take safety precautions seriously.