4 Kids Drown In NJ Pools In 2024 So Far, Reflecting Grim U.S. Trends

NEW JERSEY - Four children ? including two under the age of ten ? have died by drowning in New Jersey since Memorial Day, in what serves as a grim reflection of increased child drownings nationwide, experts say.

The Garden State's first tragedy of the year struck when a 4-year-old boy drowned on May 25 in a residential pool in North Brunswick, Patch previously reported. Authorities performed CPR on the four-year-old and transported him to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

A two-year-old South Plainfield boy died less than a week later on May 31 after being found unresponsive in the pool. He was placed on life support for four days before he died at the hospital.

Two siblings ? London Marie McWhite, 11, and Wadale McWhite, 14 ? also died in May after holding their breath for too long during a pool game.

London Marie and Wadale spent about a week on life support before their parents made the difficult decision to pull the plug, McWhite told Fox 29. McWhite, of West Philadelphia, wants her family's story to serve as a reminder to other parents about safety during pool season.

"Always have a set of eyes. Prevent your kids from playing games. Make sure the pool is safe," McWhite told Fox 29. "Make sure if it doesn't look right, don't do it. Because once you lose your child, it is hard. It's really hard to stomach."

In the wake of the drowning deaths in Middlesex County, officials have launched a new program offering free swim lessons to every second grader in the county.

?Last year, my fellow County Commissioners and I were appalled to hear about the many drownings happening not only in New Jersey but throughout the U.S. with people, particularly children, drowning at a higher rate than before the pandemic," said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios.

?By investing in water safety education, we are fostering a culture of safety and investing in the future of our community. This is in keeping with our overall commitment to improving safety and quality of life for our residents,? Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Kenny added.

Child Drownings On The Rise Nationwide

Fatal drownings involving minors under the age of 15 rose 12 percent from 2020 to 2021, the years for which data is most recently made available, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Between 2019 and 2021, an average of 358 pool or spa-related fatal drownings were reported each year, with 75 percent of those victims younger than 5 years of age, the CPSC said.

In New Jersey, about one in five people who die due to drowning are kids 14 and younger, according to the state's Department of Health. For every child who drowns, another five children are hospitalized for nonfatal submersion injuries.

"These nonfatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities such as memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g., permanent vegetative state)," the NJ Department of Health said.

?Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4 and can tragically occur silently and quickly,? said Erin Muckey, an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and medical director of the emergency department at University Hospital in Newark.

Homeowners with pools or spas should install fences with self-closing and self-latching gates, pool alarms and drain covers, Muckey said. No safety measure is foolproof, however, and toddlers have died from toppling into buckets, garden ponds, toilets and in bathtubs.

"Even if you do not have a pool, a child may unexpectedly encounter one," Muckey said. "Teaching children about pool safety is important regardless of your home environment."

According to the CPSC, 81 percent of fatal drownings involving children under 15 years old occurred at a residence ? including at the victim?s home, or the home of a family member, neighbor or friend.

The assistant professor notes that supervision of children in the water by an undistracted adult is "critical," and that all caregivers should be trained in CPR should tragedy strike.

Drowning can occur "in seconds," Muckey said, noting that "people erroneously believe that drowning is noisy, that they will hear someone splashing and will have time to act. However, drowning is silent and can happen fast. Remember, too, that young children can drown in even a few inches of water. Watch children when they are in water at all times."

The New Jersey Department of Health recommends the following drowning prevention tips:

• Swimming skills help. Taking part in formal swimming lessons reduces the risk of drowning among children aged 1 to 4 years.
• Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Life jackets can reduce risk
• Supervise When in or Around Water
• Use the Buddy System