Swimming Pool Gate

Oklahoma officials warn against water dangers after spate of drownings

They had taken swimming lessons, grew up with a backyard pool and were familiar with area lakes. Then her oldest son, Dylan Simpson , drowned in Chandler's Bell Cow Lake within weeks of his high school graduation in May.

“He was a strong swimmer,” Wigington said. “It still doesn't make any sense to me, because he was raised around the water.”

Simpson, 18, of Chandler, was in chest-high water for about 10 minutes when his friends lost sight of him.

People can drown quickly in any level of water, said Sheryll Brown , an epidemiologist for the state Health Department's Injury Prevention Service.

“It only takes seconds for someone to swallow water and be in trouble,” Brown said. “Water is a lot of fun, but it can also be very dangerous if people don't respect its ability to kill.”

She said about 86 percent of children can't be resuscitated after being underwater for 10 minutes. Four to six minutes without breathing may cause brain damage.

Finable offenses

Life preservers are a must for children — it's a law that children 12 and younger wear them when boating, skiing or on a personal watercraft.

If they are not wearing one, the adult can be fined more than $ 400, said Lt. Kurt McKean, with the Division of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol marine application.

Adults should wear them at all times, they are towed by a boat or personal watercraft.

No one should swim 50 meters from the shore without a lifejacket. Swimming on the lake a creek to another is illegal. The fine for that may exceed $ 200, McKean said.

"Swimming through a lake puts you at an extremely high risk of being crushed by a ship," he said.

Pool dangers

The state Health Department's Injury Prevention Service reported 93 drownings in 2008, and 2009 preliminary figures show there were 77. That includes deaths from water in lakes, pools, bathtubs and hot tubs.

From 2005 to 2008, the highest percentage of drownings, 62 percent, came from lakes, ponds and rivers. Swimming pool deaths accounted for about 15 percent of drownings, most of them children.

Jaida Morgan , 9, died June 12 in a backyard swimming pool in Lawton during a pool party.Police said there were several people in the region, but no one noticed Morgan was

Victims remembered

Wigington said his family has still not overcome the shock of drowning his 19-year old son. She said they will celebrate the anniversary of Dylan Simpson on July 9 with a party and dedication of a memorial garden in the courtyard outside his house.

Pool Gate Closer and Pets | shaolinusa.org

A pet is a very active creature, be it a dog, a rabbit, a mouse or any other and keeping an eye on them can be one of the most tiresome tasks. They can easily wander into restricted areas such as the pool, making them vulnerable. To keep pets out of your pool, the best thing to do is to install a pool gate closer .

A pool gate closer is mounted on top of your gate and will automatically close the gate when effort is applied. It takes a certain amount of strength to open the gate with this device and animals will be kept out in the most effective way.

It is very easy to leave the pool gate open which can easily let in pets to the water. Not all animals are good at swimming and will easily drown. The pool gate closer will make this task of locking your gate very simple and you will have less to worry about.

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