Two water-related deaths prompt urgent water safety warnings ahead of pool openings | News

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The summer is off to a heartbreaking start in Memphis, with two water-related deaths reported in just the past few days.

A man drowned in the Wolf River while trying to rescue a child. In a separate incident, a 7-year-old boy who had been reported missing was later found dead in a neighborhood swimming pool.

As the city prepares to open 12 public pools on Tuesday, health officials are urging parents and caregivers to stay alert and take water safety seriously.

Dr. Rudy Kink, a pediatric emergency physician at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, said it’s also the time of year when emergency rooms start seeing water-related injuries and drownings.

“It’s really common, especially at the beginning of the summer because everybody’s eager to get back into the water,” Kink said.

Nationwide, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1 to 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s also a major risk for older children, especially those who do not know how to swim or are left unsupervised.

“Typically, every summer we will treat around three to four drownings,” Kink said. “Le Bonheur is a referral institution, so we get patients from surrounding areas as well.”

Dr. Kink warns that not all water hazards are obvious, particularly in rivers, lakes, and ponds.

“You cannot see the bottom. There are hidden dangers like rocks, tree branches, and things kids and adults can get tangled up in,” he said. “They might jump in not knowing how deep it is and hurt their head or neck.”

Dr. Kink said drowning can happen fast—in as little as a few minutes.

“It only takes a couple minutes of the child being underwater before they become unresponsive and can even die from it,” Kink said. “Even with a safety device on, turning your back for just a moment can be deadly.”

Experts recommend always assigning a “water watcher”—an” adult whose only job is to supervise kids in the pool. In addition, teaching children to swim early can be life-saving.

Parent Eric Bradley agrees.

“Little kids can get into things,” he said. “The moment you take your eye off them, they do something they don’t realize could be harmful.”

Bradley said his wife is already planning to teach their young son how to swim. “She’s a fish,” he said. “So hopefully she’ll be able to teach him early on.”

Swim lessons are currently available at Hickory Hill and Bickford pool locations.

For a full list of open pool locations and swim lesson opportunities, click here.

For water safety tips from Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and the American Red Cross, click here.

You can also check out another Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital link here.