Child Injury Lawyer Blog

By Scott Zahler, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Georgia, a jury awarded the parents of a 2 year old child over $9 Million dollars in a lawsuit that was filed against a day care center. The case involved the drowning death of a 2 year old (Abiola Bankolemoh) who was not properly supervised by the day care center employees. As a result of the lack of supervision, the child drowned in a Georgia swimming pool. While swimming pools can be great fun for children, swimming pools also pose a significant risks to children. Because of the inherent risks associated with swimming pools, it is vital that proper supervision is in place at all times when children are in or near a swimming pool area. In particular, gates should be locked, pool fences should be secured and in place, and supervision should be consistent and constant. See Gwinnett County Georgia Jury Awards Parents a Verdict in Day Care Drowning Case. The verdict in this case was quite significant. Hopefully, the parents are able to collect upon the verdict. Many day care centers lack insurance or have minimal insurance in place to cover personal injuries and deaths that take place at a day care center.

When a child suffers personal injuries at a Georgia Day Care Center, there are often times many questions and issues involved with such an incident. The book titled - The ABCs of Child Injury - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Every Parent Should Know has chapters on Day Care Center Injuries, School Injuries, Damages / Compensation, Medical Bills / Medical Treatment, and other topics. You can obtain this book for free at Free Book for Parents Searching for Answers and Help with Personal Injury Matters.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

The Pool Safety Campaign emphasizes the importance of installing barriers around outdoor swimming pools. By doing so, parents are limiting pool access to adults only. This is the best way to keep children safe. A successful pool barrier prevents a child from getting over, under or through to gain access to the pool or spa. Successful barriers include fences, walls, and gates.

A fence or other type of barrier should be at least four feet high or taller. There should be no footholds or handholds that could help a child climb over it. Vertical fence slats should be less than four inches apart to prevent children from squeezing through. If the fence is chain link, no part of the diamond-shaped opening should be larger than 1-3/4 inches. Finally, the maximum clearance at the bottom of the barrier should not exceed four inches above grade.

The steps or ladder into an aboveground pool pool should be secured, locked or removed to prevent access. If this cannot be done, then a barrier such as a fence should surround the steps or ladder.

Fence gates should open out from the pool and should be self-closing and self-latching. The gate should be well maintained to close and latch easily. The latch should be out of a child’s reach. The release mechanism for the gate should be at least three inches below the top of the gate on the side facing the pool. The gate should have no opening greater than 1/2 inch within 18 inches of the latch release mechanism. This prevents a young child from reaching through the gate and releasing the latch.

Parents should follow these safety suggestions to ensure the prevention of poolside accidents with their children. It only takes a split second for the unimaginable to become a reality. By simply blocking the entrances to family pools with barriers, parents may ultimately be saving a life.

For more information, see The Pool Safely educational video on pool and spa fencing and gates.

By Sara Powell, Attorney & David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Quest Alliance, a day care center for special needs children located in Phoenix, Arizona, is charged with negligence for the second time after 6-year-old Tanner was left in a hot van, in the middle of the day, for more than an hour.

In 2007, Quest Alliance was charged with negligence after Jason Allan, who was an autistic 8-year-old, wandered away from the facility and was later found dead in a nearby canal. Allan had drowned.

The incident involving Tanner is now the second incident of negligence from this day care center. Luckily, Tanner was rushed to the hospital after his mother, Tracy Roberts arrived at the day care center and found her boy strapped and locked in the car. At the hospital, Tanner was pumped with fluids and later sent home.

It is unfathomable that this negligence not only happened once, but also happened twice. Although Quest Alliance took immediate action after the 2007 incident by devising a corrective plan to attempt to avoid future incidents from taking place. Clearly, something went wrong again. Employees working at day care centers especially need to be more aware of their surroundings and the children under their care, supervision, and guidance. There is no excuse for children wandering off, or children being locked in day care vans. Parents need to make sure that the day care centers they leave their children with are well equipped with precautionary measures, rules, and protocols.

For more information on this incident, see “Arizona Day Care Under Investigation After Boy Left in Sweltering Van.”

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

It has been said that good weather may increase a risk of injury to children. The B.C Children’s Hospital and B.C Ambulance Service have recorded a list of summer safety tips for parents and caregivers.

Good weather tends to bring about climbing and curiosity from children. Make sure to watch children around window screens. A window screen can pose a danger to climbing children. Children are susceptible to falling through window screens no matter how sturdy they seem to be. Parents should remove furniture from windows and balcony railings to prevent children from climbing atop and setting themselves at risk for injury. Parents and caretakers should install window guards on windows above ground level, or lock windows so they can only open 10 centimeters. Be aware though: children are fast learners. They may learn to unlock doors and windows at a young age.

Secondly, make sure to watch children around swimming pools and water parks. The good weather draws children to the water and they do not realize the risks of drowning at such a young age. Never leave a child unattended near the water. Be at an arm’s reach to your child when he or she is near the water. Young children and weak swimmers should be in life preservers at all times. Pools and other water parks and water ways should have a tall fence enclosing it to block children from access when you are not around. Toys should be removed from the pool area, for these may tempt children to play in the water without supervision. All children should take swimming lessons so they know how to swim in the water. Parents and caretakers should be trained in CPR and first-aid. They should have emergency equipment near the pool at all times.

Thirdly, parent and caretakers should never leave a child in a car. A child is at risk to heat stroke, and burns from hot seat belt buckles and other metal devices in the car if left in a car during the summer hot temperatures. Cars should be parked under the shade if possible to avoid metal getting too hot for children. Place a car seat cover on top of the car seat if possible as well to avoid it getting too hot. If a child gets locks inside, parents and caretakers should call 911 for immediate assistance.

Finally, good weather brings about bicycle riding. A child should not be riding on or near the road. They do not understand what road signs mean, nor do they have a high attention span to pay attention to moving cars. Children should also always be wearing a helmet, even if only riding a tricycle.

For more information on summer safety tips, see The B.C. Children’s Hospital and B.C. Ambulance Service Summer Safety Tips.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Washington Pennsylvania, a seven year old boy nearly drowned in a pool during an overnight camping trip last month. The boy was found and rescued by a nine year old girl who dove to the bottom to save him. Quick thinking and action by the girl saved the boy's life. The boy was on a camping trip with Happy Face Learning Center, a day care center.

Both Happy Face Learning Center and Peters Township Day Care Centers were closed and had their licenses revoked as a result of the near drowning incident. After being closed for some time however, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare permitted the centers to later reopen.

A third center operated by the same owner was closed by government authorities however as a result of allegations that the facility allowed 18 children to swim in a pool without a lifeguard. The facility administrator, however, claims that two adults were supervising the children and water safety training.

The lack of proper supervision and staff at Pennsylvania day care centers put children at risk. Day care centers should provide their employees with the proper training needed in order to better handle situations and to better supervise the children they care for. Parents entrust Day Care Centers with their children, and these centers should make it a better priority to provide them with standard care and safety.

For more information on this issue, please refer to Two of Three Centers Reopen After Near Drowning of Seven Yr. Old Boy.

By Will Brown, Attorney & David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

The near drowning of a local Springfield, Ohio infant, Hannah Rodgers has raised awareness for safety issues involving backyard pools, otherwise known as portable pools. According to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office report, 14-month-old Rodgers was found unconscious in a portable pool after someone forgot to remove the ladder after swimming.

A new study published in the June issue of Pediatrics confirms that portable pools are dangerous. The study found that every five days during the summer months, an American child drowns in this type of pool. Gary Smith, the author of the study and expert on child injury at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus does not think that parents consider the safety issues when they buy a portable pool. ‘In hardly any time at all, you can set one of these up… It’s different from an in-ground pool, where a lot of forethought (has to) go into it,’ Smith said.

Smith is concerned that the most effective pool safety devices, such as pool fences, can cost more than the pool itself. Smith’s Center for Injury Research and Policy has scolded pool manufactures for not producing the same safety precautions that are widely available for in-ground pools. Kathleen Reilly, head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s pool safety campaign said that the Federal Regulatory Agency does not require portable pools to come equipped with safety devices. The CPSC only regulates pool drains and filters. However, Reilly acknowledges that the publishers of the study raise a crucial point: ‘The ones about three feet high once you inflate them, those are the ones that are really dangerous,’ she said.

According to the study, easy safety measures such as removing pool ladders and locking all doors to the outside prevent the largest percentage of drownings. For more information on this study and topic, see Portable backyard pools dangerous to young children.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

A near drowning of a seven-year-old boy has caused the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare to shut down three western Pennsylvania day care centers. Allegedly, a young boy almost drowned during an overnight camping trip and was saved by a nine-year-old girl. No adults saw the boy almost drown.

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare cited the Kid Biz LLC day care center for gross incompetence, negligence and misconduct for allowing children to swim in a pool without lifeguard supervision, although two of the day care center’s employees had training in water safety. The owner of the day care center, Adele Wood, said that she will appeal the ruling because of the families that will be affected by the shutdown. Wood also said that there has never been an incident during a camping trip in 15 years.

Pennsylvania Day Care Centers are subject to state licensing requirements. These licensing requirements ensure that the day care center is safe; that the staff is appropriately trained and responsible; and that the program promotes the health and development of children. In addition, the license assures parents that the children are being supervised in a safe, healthy environment where appropriate activities, time schedules, food, equipment and staff are available to support the children’s physical, social, emotional, and intellectual growth. For more information, see State welfare officials shut down 3 western Pa. day care centers after boy, 7, nearly drowns.

By Scott Zahler, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Pursuant to Rule 591-1-1.35 - Swimming Pools and Water-Related Activities - of the Georgia Rules and Regulations for Child Care Learning Centers, if a permanent swimming or wading pool is located on the center's premises, the center must meet certain local regulations concerning the design, construction, operation and maintenance must be met. The swimming and wading pools must be inaccessible to children at the center except during supervised activities only.

The following are requirements for the supervision of children in water over two-feet deep.
- Provide continuous supervision during supervised activities. (If you would like to read the specific age requirements please read Rule 591-1-1.35 - Swimming Pools and Water-Related Activities - of the Georgia Rules and Regulations for Child Care Learning Centers). For more inadequate staff:child ratios during any water-relatd activity (i.e., swimming, fishing, boating or wading), at least one (1) additional staff member (in addition to the other requirements) is shall be available to rotate among the age groups as needed. As for wading pools, those shall be cleaned and filled with clean water for each day's usage and emptied when not in use.

Also, no child shall participate in a swimming activity without the parents' written permission.

When a child is abused or injured in a Georgia Day Care Center, it can be quite challenging for a parent to deal with the aftermath, stress, and trauma of such injuries to the child. The book titled The ABCs of Child Injury - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Every Parent Should Know - contains chapters on Child Abuse, School Injuries, Day Care Injuries, Damages / Compensation, and other topics. You can receive a free book on Child Injury Questions and Issues. The book is also available on the following websites: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Apple iBookstore.

By Scott Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPCS) kicked off this summer’s swimming season with their second year of its “Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives” campaign. The campaign is a national public education program aimed at raising awareness of child drowning and other swimming related injuries. Already this year, there have been 55 drowning and 63 near-drowning incidents in 20 states and territories reported.

A press conference at the Parkway Family Aquatic Center, located in Chula Vista, California urged parents and children to be cautious in and around pools and spas. During the event, Chairman Tenebaum released CPCS’s annual statistics on drowning, near-drowning and entrapment:

• 76 percent of the 383 pool/spa- related drowning for children younger than 15 involved children younger than 5;

• 79 percent of the estimated 5,100 pool/spa emergency department – treated submersions for children younger than 15 involved children younger than 5;

• 72 percent of children younger than 15 fatalities from 2006-2008, and 55 percent of the estimated injuries from 2008-2010 occurred in residential locations;

• 96 percent of victims involved in a submersion incident will die; and

• There were no reported entrapment fatalities for 2010, but CPSC received three reports of entrapment injury.

Chairman Tenebaum said that the new data regarding drowning and near drowning of children younger than five is still a serious public health issue. The Pool Safety campaign encourages parents and children to get educated about pool safety and take preventive steps toward swimming safety. The campaign is a result of CPSP’s efforts to carry out the requirements set forth of Section 1407 of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act; 2007 federal legislation that mandated new requirements for pool and spa safety. For more information on this topic, see CPSC, U.S Olympian Hold Pool Safely Press Event to Release New Drowning and Entrapment Stats.

By Scott Zahler, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Spring and Summer weather brings out reports of drownings and near drownings in Southern States like Florida and Georgia. Tragedy took place in Glynn County when a 7 year old boy (Walter Copeland, III) died a Glynn County apartment complex. The incident took place at the Glynn Place Apartments. The boy was later pronounced dead at the Southeast Georgia Health System in Brunswick, Georgia. Unfortunately, many apartment complex pools later lifeguards and other adult supervision to insure the safety of children. Whether it is because of funding, finances, or available staff, many pools go unmonitored and unsupervised despite the risk to children. It is well known that swimming pools are attractive nuisances to children. In other words, children often see the fun and sport of a swimming pool more than the risk and danger. Any swimming pool poses a risk of danger to a child. Yes, even the shallow end of the pool. You can read more about this story at Glynn Police Investigating Brunswick Boy's Drowning.

The ABCs of Child Injury - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Every Parent Should Know - has chapters on Medical Bills/Treatment, Damages / Compensation, and Injuries at Water Parks, Water Ways, and Swimming Pools as well as other topics. Parents can request this free child injury book at Free Book for Parents of Injured Children. The book is also available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Apple iBookstore.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Shannon Johnson, of Weld County, Colorado, was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by 5 years mandatory parole in relation to the drowning of her 13-month-old son. Johnson, 34, pleaded guilty to child abuse causing death in March 2010. She admitted to police she was on the popular social networking website Facebook playing Cafe World, checking on the status of friends and sharing videos while her son was taking a bath. Johnson told police she had checked on her son once in a 10 minute period. After about 3 more minutes passed, she no longer heard her son playing in the bathtub. When she went to check on him a second time Johnson found her son sideways with his face in the water. The toddler was transported by ambulance to a nearby fire station and then airlifted to Children's hospital where he was pronounced dead. The toddler had also had a seizure at his grandmother's house one month prior to the his drowning. Johnson was given anti-seizure medication to give to the her son in the event he had a seizure. The investigation was stalled pending the results of the toddler's autopsy, which revealed the cause of death to be anoxic brain injury, cardiac arrest and drowning. Johnson's mother told investigators she warned her daughter about the dangers of leaving a child unattended in a bathtub just days before he drowned. For more read Mother sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to child abuse causing death, admitted to police she was on Facebook while child drown in bathtub.

By Scott Zahler, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

In Georgia and other States, there are dangers in most residential communities. What is one of the most common dangers? Ponds and lakes are among the most common dangers in residential neighborhoods. While the scenery and view of a lake or pond can be quite beautiful, there are risks of these water ways especially to young children. Many lakes and ponds are not fenced or otherwise situated to prevent young children from wandering into them. Because of this, young children die every year from accidental drownings. One such drowning was recently reported in near Chatsworth, Georgia. A 22 month old child (Aiden Hammontree) apparently wandered into a pond near the family home and drowned. The death of this child is certainly a tragic loss for the family, neighborhood, church, and the community. See North Georgia Toddler Dies in Pond Near Family Home.

Dealing with the death or serious personal injury is always difficult for the family. At these times, it is important to have other family and friends close by. The church and community also serve a role in helping comfort and assist the family grieving the loss of a child. While the services of an attorney or lawyer are not always necessary, there are, depending on the facts and the case, legal issues to deal with when a child suffers personal injuries or death. Sometimes, an attorney can help a family sort through the issues and represent the injured child or the family. At other times, there is not much an attorney can do except help comfort and advise the family. The book titled The ABCs of Child Injury - Legal Rights of the Injured Child - What Every Parent Should Know - has some helpful advice and recommendations for parents dealing with the aftermath of a child personal injury. You can receive a free copy of this book at Free Child Injury Book for Parents.

By Joshua Shulman, Attorney, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

The Oregon State Police believe that two teenage boys drowned after waves swept the boys off a rocking outcropping and into the ocean. According to Lt. Gregg Hastings, the body of 18-year-old Connor Gregory Ausland was found. However, authorities have yet to find 17-year-old Jack Harnsongkram. Both young men are residents of Eugene, Orgeon, and were students at South Eugene High School. Hastings also stated that the two teenagers were visiting the area, near Smelt Sands State Park in Lincoln County, with a group of other teens and adults. A local television station reported that a third teen was also knocked into the surf by the powerful waves but manages to get out safely. Police believe that both Ausland and Harnsongkram drowned. For more details please read Two Oregon teens believed to drown after being knocked into surf by powerful waves.

The deaths of these two young men are a tragedy for their family and community. With temperatures rising, many people are participating in more water-related activities. Thus, it becomes that time of year where water-related personal injuries and deaths are also on the rise. Children and adults need to be aware of powerful currents and should not go into the water if they are feeling the slightest bit fatigued.

By Jonathan Safran, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Authorities in La Crosse County, Michigan, are investigating the death of a 15-month-old toddler. The toddler is suspected to have drowned in the bathtub of his home in the Town of Campbell, Michigan. Authorities arrived to the home after the father of the toddler reported that his child had possibly drowned in the bathtub. First responders to the scene found the child unresponsive. Although attempts were made to revive the toddler, the child was pronounced dead at Gunderson Lutheran Medical Center. If you would like to read more on this incident please see 15-month-old reportedly drowns in bathtub.

Today, most homes come equipped with a bathtub. However, parents fail to realize that even a small amount of water can be quite dangerous for smaller children. Bathtub drownings are still extensively reported. Every time a child is near or around water, the child should be constantly supervised. Other safety precautions can be taken as well. For example, when a tub is not being used, drain it.

By David M. Baum, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

An unfortunate drowning death occurred in Lake Michigan recently. I twas reported that Michael Hilling, age 19 from Rock, Michigan, went into the water to retrieve his girlfriend's water bottle that had fallen into the lake. The incident took place as Hilling and his girlfriend were watching a fireworks celebration just after midnight to bring in the New Year. The simple act or gesture of getting a water bottle lead to this young man's death. There is a danger or risk of drowning for any child or adult that goes into a lake or other water way. The depth of the water, temperature of the water, time of day / night, and other factors can contribute to the risks when a person jumps into a water. While most think that only children are at high risk for drowning, the risk really applies to everybody - young or old and everybody in between. You can read more about this story at Teen Dies After Jumping into Lake Michigan.

By John Jensen, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

A little girl, believed to be about 3-years-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, is clinging on to life after falling into her family's in-ground pool. The child was playing with her parents outside in the family's backyard when in a moment's time the parents discovered their child was gone. After searching the nearby area, the child's father found her in the pool, which was almost drained and had only a few feet of water in the pool. The parents performed CPR on the child until rescue units arrived. Once the paramedics arrived they performed CPR on the child until arriving at the hospital. Doctors at the emergency rooms reported they did discover vital signs.

The little girl was listed in critical condition at Carolinas Medical Center. If you would like to read more on this story please see Young girl in critical condition after falling into family's in-ground pool.

This tragic incident has been a wake-up call for neighbors of the little girl and her family. Parents need to always take safety precautions when their children are around water. A key way to prevent your child from sustaining harm or drowning is to maintain constant supervision over your child. Knowing a child's whereabouts at all times helps prevent him or her from getting into dangerous situations and allows you to act faster in providing help. Of course, accidents or incidents do happen. Parents are not perfect and do their best to keep their children out of harm's way.

By David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

On August 12 9-year-old boy, Trevor Howe, ran outside of his home chasing after his family's Labrador retriever, Sweetpea. However, when Trevor's parents discovered Sweetpea had returned to the home without Trevor, Trevor's parents rushed to a nearby pond to look for their son. When they arrived at the pond medical personnel were already working on Trevor's unconscious body. Trevor died four days later at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Trevor's tragic death has sparked the city and county officials to focus their attention on pond safety, specifically stormwater pond improvements and pond design standards. Trevor's father is petitioning the city to place a 4-foot high chain-link fence around the pond where Trevor drowned, which would replace the nylon mesh fence that serves mainly to keep pedestrians from interfering with the ponds vegetation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional, injury-related death in children ages 1 to 14. Although most drownings occur in swimming pools, the percentage of drownings in natural water settings increase with age.

The laws regarding the safety and standards of ponds and stormwater retention areas were last updated in 2005. Jenny Miller, the city's engineer, stated that safety standard issues that are likely to be addressed are increasing warning signage. If you would like to read more on this story see Boy drowns in Indiana ponds, has city officials looking to update their pond and stormwater safety standards.

By J. Rock Palermo, Attorney, Roy S. Dickinson, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Two Louisiana families suffered a major tragedy after teens from both families drowned. The seven teenagers were playing in the shallow waters of the Red River when one teen stepped of the slippery ledge and plummeted into much deeper waters. The other teens tried to save the boy, but they too were overpowered by the water and taken into the deeper water. The onlooking relatives, who could also not swim, desparately screamed for help as they watched their teens vanish and drown.

DeKendrix Warner, 15, was the first to fall in and was rescued by a bystander.
Those who did drown were identified as two families: the Warners and the Stewarts. The Warners who drowned were: Takeitha, 13; and her older brothers JaMarcus, 14 and JaTavious, 17. Among the Stewarts were: Litrelle, 18; LaDairus; and Latevin, 15.

The area where the drowning occurred was not a designated recreational or swimming area and no lifeguard as on duty. If you would like to read more on this story see 2 Louisiana families suffer from drownings on hot summer day.

This is a tragedy for these families and their community. It is important to understand the inherent dangers of water. Make sure a lifeguard is always on duty, do not swim in areas not designated for swimming, maintain constant supervision of child while around water and everyone who is not deemed a capable swimmer should be adorned with the proper life-saving equipment when practical and available.

By Scott A. Marks, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

Paul Sniffen, a 6-year-old boy, was finally identified as the boy who drowned in a public pool in Castro Valley, California while on an outing with his day care center. Paul was found in about 4-feet of water at the Castro Valley Swim Center, he was pronounced dead at Eden Medical Center. The Center has different pools including a shallow pool, which has a depth of about 2 1/2-feet, and a deep pool, which has a depth of about 12-feet. Paul was observed playing in the shallow pool and, sometime later, he had moved to the deeper area of the pool. It was unknown how well Paul could swim. The Sheriff's Department is conducting an investigation regrading the circumstances of Paul's death. If you would like to read more on this story see 6-year-old boy who drowned in public pool while on day care outing is finally identified.

The death of this young boy is a tragedy for his family and the community. It is imperative that adults constantly supervise children while children are playing in the water or engaged in water-related activities. Although the water provides fun and exercise for children, it can be dangerous, harmful, and sometimes deadly to children.

By Steven Smith, Attorney and David Wolf, Attorney
Published by Child Injury Lawyer Network

New York State Police say Aaron Davies, a 2-year-old boy, drowned in an above-ground pool located in the backyard of the toddler's residential daycare facility in Greenville, New York. Aaron and nine other children were cared for by three women at the day care, which is unlicensed. Allegedly, while the children were in the backyard, the toddler climbed the ladder leading up to the pool without being noticed and entered the pool. It is believed the toddler was underwater for 3 minutes before he was found by the adults working at the day care. Rescue personnel was called and performed CPR on the toddler until he arrived at Albany Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. If you would like to read more on this story see Toddler drowns in backyard pool at unlicensed day care facility.

This child's death is a tragedy for his family and the community. Water, although fun and great exercise for children, is incredibly dangerous. Parents, guardians, babysitters, day care providers and employees need to maintain constant supervision while the children under their care are playing in the water. Before allowing a child to play in water make sure he or she is not too fatigued, is capable of swimming in the depths of the water or is provided the proper and approved safety devices. If you would like to read more water safety tips see Swimming Pools and Safety - Need for Consistent and Undistracted Adult Supervision.