espite a diligent and caring staff, drownings occur even with lifeguards on watch.
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They happen because drowning is extremely difficult to detect even for trained eyes, often being silent, taking only seconds, and striking any swimmer regardless of ability.
Its results devastate the lives of the victims, their families, the staff, and the community. We know this personally from experience because the two cofoundes saw it happen in their home towns.
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"I'VE SPOKEN TO THOSE WHO HAD EXPERIENCED AN EVENT YEARS AGO AT THEIR FACILITY, AND THEIR EYES STILL SWELL UP WITH TEARS. THE PAIN NEVER GOES AWAY. "
– DAVE CUTLER, WAVE COFOUNDER
DROWNING
FACTS
"DROWNING IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF
INJURY RELATED DEATHS FOR CHILDREN AGES 1 to 14 YEARS."
– US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
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"88% OF CHILDREN DROWNINGS OCCUR UNDER SUPERVISION."
– NATIONAL DROWNING PREVENTION ALLIANCE
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"FOR CHILDREN 5 TO 9 YEARS OF AGE AND CHILDREN 10 TO 14 YEARS OF AGE,
THE PUBLIC/COMMUNITY/BUSINESS LOCATION ACCOUNTED
FOR THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF REPORTED DROWNINGS"
– CPSC
AN AVERAGE OF 33 PEOPLE DROWN PER DAY OF WHICH 11 ARE FATAL.
–COMPILED FROM CPSC
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"WHILE LIFEGUARDS PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT LAYER OF PROTECTION
AT SWIMMING POOLS , THEY ALONE CANNOT PREVENT ALL DROWNINGS.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES ARE NEEDED."
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– FATALITIES IN SWIMMING POOLS WITH LIFEGUARDS: USA, 2000–2008
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“DECEDENTS WERE INITIALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE POOL
TWICE AS OFTEN AS NON-LIFEGUARDS
(EG OTHER SWIMMERS OR BYSTANDERS) AS BY LIFEGUARDS."
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– FATALITIES IN SWIMMING POOLS WITH LIFEGUARDS: USA, 2000–2008
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“FOR NATURAL WATER SETTINGS,
6 OUT OF 10 FATAL DROWNINGS HAPPENED
IN THE PRESENCE OF A SUPERVISING ADULT. "
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"... DEATH RATES AMONG CHILDREN IN SWIMMING POOLS
HAVE BARELY BUDGED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS."
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"IN AS LITTLE AS 20 SECONDS A CHILD CAN DROWN UNNOTICED.
FOR AN ADULT IT ONLY TAKES ABOUT ONE MINUTE."
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"DROWNING IS A SILENT KILLER, WITH THE VICTIM
OFTEN UNABLE TO CRY OUT FOR HELP, WAVE THEIR ARMS,
OR EVEN ALERT THE PERSON NEXT TO THEM..."
– CPSC
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"BECAUSE DROWNING CAN OCCUR QUICKLY AND QUIETYLY,
IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT LIFEGUARDS, DISTRACTED FROM KEEPING
AN EYE ON THE WATER BY OTHER ASSIGNED DUTIES,
HAVE FAILED TO SPOT DROWNING PERSONS IN TIME TO RESCUE THEM.
INDEED, UNOBSERVED DROWNINGS HAVE OCCURRED EVEN
WHILE LIFEGUARDS WERE STATIONED 20 FEET FROM THE WATER."
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– FATALITIES IN SWIMMING POOLS WITH LIFEGUARDS: USA, 2000-2008
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"FOR CHILDREN 5-14 YEARS OLD THAT DROWN IN POOLS,
57% OF FATALITIES OCCUR IN PUBLIC/COMMERCIAL POOLS ."
– CPSC POOL OR SPA SUBMERSION REPORT 2018
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"ANOTHER 5 TO 10 PEOPLE RECEIVE HOSPITAL-RELATED CARE
FOR NON-FATAL DROWNING INJURIES
FOR EVERY FATAL DROWNING VICTIM."
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"DESPITE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LIFEGUARDS,
PEOPLE STILL DROWN IN LIFEGUARDED FACILTIES."
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– IDENTIFICATION OF CRITICAL EVENTS BY LIFEGUARDS, INSTRUCTORS AND NON-LIFEGUARDS
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"ANY GIVEN SWIMMING POOL IS NEARLY
100 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO KILL
A CHILD THAN ANY GIVEN GUN."
– 'FREAKONOMICS' BY LEVITT & DUBNER
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DETERMINING WHEN A SWIMMER IS DROWNING
IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
Can you spot the drowning victim before the guards do?
With WAVE your guards will know immediately if someone may be at risk from prolonged submersion before the event can escalate.