The dangers of swimming pools: In memoriam Jaden Fournier, 3 years old
On the very morning when we are planning to take Charlie to the town pool for the first swim of summer 2006, a three-year-old autistic boy is reported to have drowned in his backyard swimming pool on Thursday, according to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Jaden Fournier of Henrietta in upstate New York apparently walked off a deck into an above-ground swimming pool. Jaden was non-verbal and loved Elmo.
In Thursday’s case, “the parents had taken measures to restrict the boy’s access to the pool area by placing a number of barriers in the way. But the boy was able to overcome those,” said Cpl. John Helfer, a spokesman for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Summer has yet to start and already three autistic children—Tyji Chester, 7, in Maryland earlier this month and Korey Penwall, 5, in Indiana on May 26th—have drowned. I can barely imagine what Jaden’s mother, Jessica Fournier, is thinking and feeling.
I can understand why a family with an autistic child might have a backyard swimming pool. More than a few autistic children (my son included) love the water and, in summertime, pools are a constant temptation. We take Charlie to a town pool to swim but—it being a public setting, with lots of bodies splashing in the water and rules like “adult swim” for fifteen minutes every hour—-the delight of swimming can sometimes be erased by an upset child who sees the water and must get into it NOW. Some families that we know have a pool in their backyard to help their child, and them, get through long summer days without the structure of school. We know of a family whose son was—-like Charlie—an excellent swimmer, but who drowned in the family pool one morning.
Pools are too much fun; pools are dangerous.
I will be watching Charlie both in the pool and (more unlikely) beside it, and thinking of the Fourniers, and of Jaden.
8 opinions for The dangers of swimming pools: In memoriam Jaden Fournier, 3 years old
Sharon
Jun 17, 2006 at 7:12 am
I have been considering putting in a pool at home. Currently, we go to the Y daily for a swim and the boys love it and it is great exericse. In Florida, it is too hot for them play on the trampoline and swim, but swimming it good. I have considered the dangers but also know that my sons are good at following some rules. Every year, we go to Michigan to visit my dad. The lake sits outside just 20′ from the door. There are no barriers but us being vigilant about watching the boys. We have been fortunate. Andy is more tempted to wander away from the house rather than get in the water without permission and we are working on that.
Ballastexistenz
Jun 17, 2006 at 8:09 am
I think that, frankly, having a pool with any young child at home is an incredibly dangerous thing. (There have already also been a number of drownings of non-autistic children in pools.)
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 17, 2006 at 8:50 am
An autistic 6-year-old whom some of Charlie’s speech therapists knew and worked with died last year—–in her bathtub. One can never be too careful, and too vigilant.
Ballastexistenz
Jun 17, 2006 at 9:54 am
Isn’t it actually something like, anything with two inches or more of water needs to be watched really carefully with kids around?
Sharon
Jun 17, 2006 at 11:48 am
Yes. Dangers are everywhere. Parents cannot assumer their child is safe in their own homes, accidents can happen.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jun 17, 2006 at 5:11 pm
It’s an ultra-cautionary note as summer starts. I am a light sleeper but still, one can never be too careful.
Marty
Jun 21, 2006 at 9:46 am
I suupose there is no way of avoiding pool accidents entirely, but short of not letting your child swim at all, there are some things you can do to make accidents less frequent, I think. It is certainly true that keeping a close eye on your kids is the best way to prevent accidents, and that it is so easy for parents or others watching kids to get distracted, but you can put a back-up plan in place and be as close to 100% safe as it is possible to be.
Nearly 6,000 kids died from accidental drowning in 1990 through 1998, according to US govt stats. One death by drowning is too many, but Invisia, Guardian Pool Fence, Terrapin, and a number of other manufacturers make fences that can help prevent accidental drowning. Fencing can make the pool inaccessible WITHOUT adult supervision. You can get a free pool safety checklist from Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) by sending a postcard to Pool Safety, Washington, D.C. 20207.
Autism Vox » In memoriam Jabriel Eason
Aug 16, 2006 at 8:52 pm
[…] Two other autistic children, 7-year-old Tyji Chester and 3-year-old Jaden Fournier also drowned in swimming pools earlier this summer. […]
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: