By Joyce Lavene

Draven Ashbaugh, two years old, drowned Monday in a backyard pool. He was visiting his father and grandparents in Mt. Pleasant when it happened. His mother, Heather Barbee and grandmother, Cathy Phillips of Oakboro would like everyone to know that drowning is preventable.
“I hope people will read this and realize that active supervision is the most important thing to keep kids safe. Some of the precautions from Safe Kids of Stanly County (SKSC) might have prevented this and other drownings,” said Phillips.
SKSC recommends always actively supervising children in and around water. Don’t leave, even for a moment. Stay where you can see, hear, and reach kids in water. Avoid talking or texting on the phone, preparing a meal, reading and other distractions.
If you have a pool or spa, or if your child visits a home that has a pool or spa, it should be surrounded on all four sides by a fence at least four feet high with self-closing and self-latching gates that lock. Don’t leave toys in or near the pool, where they could attract unsupervised kids. For extra protection, consider a pool alarm and alarms on the doors, windows and gates leading to the pool.
Teach children about the dangers of swimming around drains.  Children should not swim or play near any drain or suction outlet. Make sure all pools and spas have compliant anti-entrapment drain covers and back up devices to ensure safer places for children to swim.
Know how to swim and enroll your kids in swimming lessons. Swimming lessons won’t make your child immune to drowning, but it is an important skill for both adults and children to learn. Don’t rely on inflatable swimming toys such as “water wings” and noodles. If your child can’t swim, stay within an arm’s reach.
Learn infant and child CPR. In less than two hours, you can learn effective interventions that can give a fighting chance to a child whose breathing and heartbeat have stopped. Contact the American Red Cross at 704-982-0070 or the American Heart Association at 704-374-0632 for information about local CPR classes.
Learn how to use rescue equipment. Keep the equipment, a phone, and emergency numbers nearby in case there is an emergency.
“Kids drown quickly and quietly,” said Brian Taylor, coordinator of SKSC. “A drowning child can’t cry or shout for help.  It is important to remember that simple steps save lives – supervise children when they are in or near water, learn water safety skills like swimming and CPR and for home pools and spas, use barriers and anti-entrapment devices. The most important precaution for parents is active supervision. Simply being near your child is not necessarily supervising.”
Visit www.safekids.org to download a free Water Watcher badge.
For more information about water safet and to receive a free Water Watcher badge, visit www.safekids.org.