MA Swimming Danger Concerns Rise After Recent Drowning Threats

BEVERLY, MA — A scary, yet alarmingly familiar, scene played out on the North Shore late Thursday afternoon when a teen was pulled unresponsive from a backyard swimming pool in Beverly.

Quick, life-saving actions from alert bystanders and first responders helped revive the 13-year-old boy — who was rushed to Beverly Hospital, taken by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital, and was "doing well" as of Friday morning, according to Beverly Police Chief John LeLacheur.

• Teen Found Unresponsive In Beverly Pool, Flown To Boston Hospital

But the near-tragedy was a reminder that a season of fun and activity in pools, ponds, rivers, lakes and the ocean can turn tragic with very little notice.

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An eighth-grader found unresponsive in an Andover pond in May died last week. An 18-year-old in Milton who was pulled from Houghton's Pond this past weekend also later died following a water rescue.

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The state Executive Office of Health and Human Services said that drowning is often "swift and silent" without signs of struggle, splashing, or a cry for help. It can take as few as 20 seconds to sink below the water and only minutes to drown.

"Time in a drowning is everything," YMCA of Metro North President and CEO Kathleen Walsh told Patch on Friday morning. "We know that in the first four minutes, kids can have a meaningful recovery. After that, it is unlikely. There are usually permanent consequences."

Last month, the YMCA of Metro North joined the national YMCA water safety program when it made 1,000 "Water Watcher" badges available to help parents and caregivers designate an adult whose only job is to keep eyes on the water — and can cut down on that critical reaction time if someone is in distress.

A Water Watcher is a responsible adult who stays focused on children in or near water without distractions. That means phones down, books down, conversations paused, and eyes on the water.

"It's not the time to share videos or have deep conversations with their friends," said Walsh, also saying that she was grateful to hear the Beverly teen was recovering Friday morning. "They know it's their job to watch the water. That should be happening anyway. But we have taken it to another level by assigning a responsible adult to literally take on the role as a Water Watcher."

YMCA of Metro North will distribute the free Water Watcher badges at its outdoor pools in Saugus and Peabody and during open family swim times in Lynn and Melrose, with anyone hosting a pool party or beach get-together welcomed to pick them up and make a plan with other adults attending the event.

YMCA, and other civic organizations, also offer learn-to-swim lessons — the most important way that children and adults can stay safe in the water.

"The first course of action is making sure kids know how to swim and, if they don't, they are wearing a safety device that will keep them afloat," Walsh said. "That has to be the responsibility of an adult. The assumption can't be made that someone is watching at an event. That can't happen.

"These are conversations that parents have to have with their kids and with each other. It ultimately starts at home."

Swimmers are urged to swim with a "buddy" and never swim alone, even if they consider themselves strong swimmers.

Parents should teach children how to dial 9-1-1 in the case of an emergency.

The American Red Cross and YMCAs also offer a wide array of CPR, first aid, lifeguarding, swimming and water safety classes.

"Water safety is a critical part of the Y's mission, we are committed to ensuring everyone has access to swim lessons so they can be safe around the water," YMCA of the North Shore COO Gerald McKillop told Patch. "We teach thousands of kids to swim each year and we know it is one of the most important life skills.

"The Y has always played a key role in water safety in our communities and we will continue to do everything we can to help people gain water safety skills."

Parents are urged to remove floats, balls and other toys from the pool when not in use to reduce the temptation for children to go in unsupervised. Pool fences and gates should also be installed to limit access when there is no supervision.

Ponds, rivers and lakes can be even more dangerous to both young and experienced swimmers because steep drop-offs take swimmers by surprise, invisible currents can sweep swimmers away or tire them out, and tree limbs, plants, rocks and other obstacles can impede swimming.

"If a swimmer is quiet or in distress, ask if they are okay," Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker advised in a previously released public service announcement. "If they cannot verbally respond with an affirmation that they are doing well, take immediate action and assume it is a drowning risk unless or until proven otherwise."

Those who witness someone struggling should immediately call 9-1-1 and should attempt a rescue only if they are trained, so as not to become victims themselves.

While summer is considered the "swimming season," many water safety incidents occur in the spring when cold water shocks those who either fall in or go swimming on a nice day, not expecting the water temperature to be so low.

Swimmers should never go in remote areas alone or in areas with designated "No Swimming" signs above their ankles.

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