Drowning Prevention During Holiday Weekend

On the hot summer day, you'll find the Bentley Family of Fort Worth at the TCU Recreation Center pool, where Mary Jean Bentley works on her children's swim skills.

"I actually put myself through college life-guarding," says Bentley, "so I firmly believe in swim safety and keeping kids safe. Plus, always keeping an eye, always, because you never know . It takes a second and they can be under."

Safety experts remind parents as they head into the holiday weekend that drowning is silent and happens, most often, in apartment or backyard pools.

As of June 27, 2016, 51 children in Texas have drowned. They include four in Denton County, four in Dallas County and five in Tarrant County.

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"We are very alarmed by the numbers in the last three weeks. We also know we're coming into Fourth of July weekend and this is the most dangerous weekend of the summer," says Rose Bradshaw, Executive Vice President of North Texas Community Foundation.

Peak season for swimming-related tragedies occurs between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and access to water safety training is a key solution to turning the tide, according to The North Texas Community Foundation, which is a collection of charitable funds supported by donors.

According to Bradshaw, donors were invited to help fund a program providing swimming lessons at 20 local apartment complexes and other venues around Fort Worth.

The initiative targets neighborhoods which are home to low-income families that may otherwise be unable to afford swim lessons.

The North Texas Community Foundation generated more than $17,000 to help underwrite potentially life-saving swim lessons.

TCU Swimming Richard Sybesma knows lessons saves lives.

"Bottom line is two seconds is too long. Don't turn your back on a child for more than two seconds," says Sybesma. "Any type of flotation device is helpful but that's not the guarantee."

According to the Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition, Texas is number one in the country for pool drowning deaths.

Resources:

North Texas Community Foundation

Fort Worth Drowning Prevention Coalition

Statistics:

HelpandHope.org

On a hot summer day, you'll find the Bentley Family of Fort Worth at the TCU Recreation Center pool, where Mary Jean Bentley works on her children's swim skills.

"I actually put myself through college life-guarding," said Bentley. "So, I firmly believe in swim safety and keeping kids safe. Plus, always keeping an eye, always, because you never know. It takes a second and they can be under."

Safety experts remind parents as they head into the holiday weekend that drowning is silent and happens, most often, in apartment or backyard pools.

As of June 27, 2016, 51 children in Texas have drowned. They include four children in Denton County, four in Dallas County and five in Tarrant County.

"We are very alarmed by the numbers in the last three weeks. We also know we're coming into Fourth of July weekend and this is the most dangerous weekend of the summer," said Rose Bradshaw, Executive Vice President of North Texas Community Foundation.