Connecticut House Unanimously Approves Pool Safety Bill

The state House of Representatives unanimously approved on Wednesday a bill that would establish a uniform pool safety policy across Connecticut, a move that was done largely in response to the drowning of two high school students in Manchester and East Hartford.

The bill seeks to mandate that two adults be in a pool setting at all times as an increased safety measure, The Hartford Courant reported.

The new legislation comes just months after a 14-year-old Manchester High School student, Malvrick Donkor, drowned in the high school’s pool. Donkor, who did not know how to swim, was under water for 17 minutes before anyone saw him there.

Lawmakers from Manchester and East Hartford welcomed the proposal as common sense legislation. “Towns around Connecticut have various safety policies and it is my hope that having one strong uniform policy for all will help prevent future accidents,” said Rep. Joseph Diminico, a Democrat who represents Manchester and Glastonbury.

“This is good legislation that I believe will help prevent drownings in our schools,” said Democratic Rep. Jason Rojas, who represents Manchester and East Hartford. “The key to the bill is having another set of eyes on the pool whose specific job will be to look out for swimmer in distress or in need of assistance.”

Rojas added: “Education on swimming and pool safety is critical and perhaps more important than any legislation we pass. But what really needs to happen is a discussion as a community about the disproportionate rate at which Black and Latino children drown, as well as adults of color, due to weak swimming skills.”