Tragic Franklin Township Accidents Spawn Water Safety Program

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death of children ages 14 and under, and it is the number one cause of unintentional injury-related death among children under the age of four. These statistics were made all too obvious during the month of July in Franklin Township.

WARN (Water Awareness in Residential Neighborhoods) is a program being developed by the Franklin Township Fire Department as a result of the drowning of an eight-year old boy on July 9, and an incident involving a two-year old found in a backyard swimming pool on July 16.

Dive Team Coordinator, Jerry Richert, is responsible for this idea, and he has developed several goals for the program.

The first goal of WARN will be to make available to the area schools and neighborhood organizations information classes which will cover such topics as water activities, water hazards and what to do in case of a water emergency.

The program will provide literature to children who participate in the classes to take home so that the parents may also review the information presented in the program.

Information will also be made available to parents about where they can get swimming lessons for their children, and there are plans to try to provide free CPR classes to Franklin Township residents.

The Fire Department is also developing a sign that will be placed at all township ponds which will display the WARN logo, provide safety information and give warning that the ponds are hazardous places.

The target date for implementation of the WARN program is August 31st, and future information about this important program will be published as it becomes available.