I grew up with a pool at my home. There was respect paid to the water. We always heard that kids can drown in only an inch of the wet stuff. Those times were different. Kids were free-range. Kids, I think, were better equipped to protect themselves because we always had to. We walked to and from school alone, crossed streets, and didn’t take candy from strangers. We saved our own lives day in and day out, because we knew we had to. There wasn’t anyone else there to do it.

Nowadays, parents hover and watch, never far from their brood with a hand up or stern words on safety.

Drowning happens and it doesn’t look like you think it would, at least not most of the time. It’s not violent splashing or waving arms, it’s nearly silent. It can even happen hours after you’ve left the pool.

I came across these two stories, and found them worth sharing. If you have any thoughts on them, please comment below!

SCD

The Silent Killer

Secondary Drowning