Olympian talks children’s water safety as summer approaches

JACKSON, Tenn. — The summer heat is on the way. Whether you are getting the pool ready or thinking about installing one this year, now is the time to be proactive when it comes to making the pool safe for everyone, especially children.

According to the CDC, 4,000 people in the U.S. die each year from drowning – however, drowning is preventable.

The main way to prevent drowning is to teach children how to swim.

Another effective layer of protection is an automatic safety cover.

Olympic and World Championship Gold Medalist, Bode Miller, has a very personal connection to this topic, as his 19-month-old daughter accidentally drowned in a neighbor’s pool in 2018.

“I wish I’d known about it before. Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for kids age one to four, actually I think it’s two or three for up to eighteen, so a massive risk there that’s very often is not talked about,” Miller said. “Once you get passed the awareness hump, it becomes about prevention and layers.”

According to the National Institute of Health, swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning in children by 88%.

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