Influencer urges parents to get pool fences 6 months after son's drowning death
Influencer Emilie Kiser is urging parents to install swimming pool fences, six months after her son Trigg's drowning death.
Kiser shared tips for parents in an Instagram post remembering her late son, reminding them to supervise children; install a pool fence, alarms, locks and automatic door closers; and register children for swimming lessons.
"Drowning is quick and preventable," Kiser wrote. "I know statistically Trigg's drowning won't be the last, and more have happened since. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4 in the U.S."
Kiser's tips echo what experts recommend to keep children safe around water and prevent drowning.
"Key prevention measures include 4-sided fencing of all residential pools, close supervision of young children whenever they are in or near water, and swim lessons once children are ready to learn to swim," the American Academy of Pediatrics states on its website.
Other tips from the AAP include choosing a designated "water watcher" when supervising children. One study found that half of child drownings occur between 4 and 6 p.m.; this could be related to adults being distracted by meal prep and children having less supervision as a result.
The AAP also recommends emptying inflatable or portable pools after every use, as even shallow pools are a drowning risk to children. Additionally, the AAP says children should never be left alone in a bath tub or in the care of another child, even for a moment.
Dr. Sarah Denny, a pediatrics professor at The Ohio State University and lead author of the AAP's "Prevention of Drowning Technical Report," previously shared seven tips ensure kids' safety around water:
1. Model safe behavior: Parents should wear personal flotation devices alongside kids.
2. Avoid using water toys as safety equipment: Water wings, inflatables, noodles and other toys are meant for recreation, and according to Denny, "have no safety components or traits about them."
3. Stay vigilant and near kids in or around water: Denny advises adults stay within arm's reach whenever children are in and near water.
4. Keep pools fenced in: A fence around a pool is the most effective, proven way to prevent drowning of young children, according to the AAP. The fence needs to be at least 4 feet high, non-climbable, have a self-closing and self-latching gate, and surround the entire pool, separating it from a house.
5. Enroll your child and yourself in swim lessons: Denny called swimming "an important life skill" and said everyone needs to know what to do if they ever fall into water over their head.
6. Learn CPR: In a drowning, the American Heart Association emphasizes "immediate, high-quality bystander CPR," which boosts the chance of survival.
7. Encourage kids to wear bright colors around water: Wearing a bright swimsuit or life jacket color -- like orange, red, pink, or yellow -- can improve visibility in the water.
Kiser, an influencer who has 2 million followers on Instagram and more than 5 million followers on TikTok, recalled the day of Trigg's unexpected death as one of "the worst moments" in her life.
"I miss him with every fiber of my being," the grieving mom wrote. "Every ounce of me yearns to hold him again, hug him again, tell him how special he is, and how much I love him. I miss his voice, his hugs, his smile, his laugh, the way he added a 'k' sound to any word ending with the letter 's' and the way he lit up every room he walked into."
"I miss him daily. I love him forever, and I hope I can spread even an ounce of the joy he gifted to us and everyone he crossed paths with each day," she added.
