Swim Lessons Make Lebanon Boy a Lifesaver for Baby Sister

July 13, 2011

An 8-year-old boy hopes to spread the message that swim lessons save lives after jumping in the family pool to rescue his baby sister earlier this month in Lebanon, Indiana. According to WISHTV 8 News, the boy found his 2-year-old sister gasping for breath in the family pool and jumped in to save her. The boy and his family credit his swimming abilities, which have developed throughout years of lessons, for rescuing his sister from drowning. The young hero was honored by the local fire department, who presented him with a certificate of recognition for his achievement in water rescue.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) reports drowning as the leading cause of death for children between the ages of one and four. These statistics, as well as 19 total drowning deaths in Indiana this year alone, serve as powerful reminders to observe water safety basics.

The American Red Cross offers four simple tips for staying safe around water:

• Make water safety a priority
• Prevent unsupervised access to the water
• Maintain constant supervision
• Know what to do in an emergency

The Indiana Personal Injury Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin wish everyone a great summer on the water, and hope you’ll keep safety in mind while enjoying the pool, lake, river, or beach.