Swim Safety a Top Concern After Recent Drownings - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Meghan McRoberts

OMAHA (KPTM)-

Police say 6-year-old Teriyana Erwin-Morrison drowned in an apartment swimming pool Sunday night at the Reserve Apartments near 108^th and Manderson.

Police say a woman who lives at the complex saw the girl and pulled her out of the water, but not in time to save her. Police are still investigating the incident.

 In light of other recent drownings in the Omaha area, swim safety experts hope parents and kids will take more precautions before diving in head first.

Sue Heiman, property manager at the Reserve Apartments, says the complex has safety procedures at the pool. "We have a lock on the gate that the only way you can get in is with a key. We have a pool pass that's a wrist band," Explained Heiman.

Signs are also posted around the pool with rules, including the rule that anyone under 16 can not swim without an adult. Heiman says there are only so many things she can do. The rest is in the hands of the swimmers.

Autumn Foland takes her 20 month old niece to the pool at Elmwood Park. Foland says she keeps her niece as close as possible. " We try and stay buddies and be as close as we can to each other," Foland explained.

Connie Harvey with The Red Cross says Foland is right on track. "For the youngest children you should have ‘reach supervision'. Be within arm's reach of them at all times so that in the event you see things start to go wrong, you're right there and can deal with it so it really doesn't turn into a disaster."

Foland says the safety doesn't stop at the little ones. "There should always be adult supervision, even for your children that are in their teens," Harvey continued.

Harvey says swimmers need to take breaks and not wear out. She also advises parents to teach their children how to swim as soon as possible, but at their own pace.

Follow the link for information on swim lessons at The Red Cross.

http://rdcrss.org/kDQlhp