June 3, 2010

  You may remember that South Boston Online wrote an editorial last year called “We Were Amazed” (our June 4, 2009, issue – page two).  That editorial dealt with the tragic drowning in Nebraska of a young toddler named Joshua Collingsworth.

  Young Josh had slipped away from his parents during a Sunday afternoon gathering at their home.  The Collingsworths owned a backyard pool, which they had just opened up that morning for their guests.  Apparently, Josh had gone to the pool to fill his toy water pistol and slipped in.  He was found floating face down.  Even though he could not have been in the pool for more than a couple of minutes, he was unconscious.  Family members who knew CPR could not bring him back.  He was med-flighted to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.  Three days later, since he was totally unresponsive, Josh was taken off life support.

  The Collingsworths reacted to their heart-rending tragedy by writing and publishing a children’s book about water safety.  They entitled their book “Josh, the Baby Otter” after their son.  They printed it and sent it, at their own expense, to all the schools in the State of Nebraska and 700 newspapers across the nation.     

  When we received our copy of “Josh, the Baby Otter”, we were amazed to find out that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among children between the ages of 1 and 5.  That is a statistic from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the world-renowned government agency in Atlanta.  Not car crashes, fires, or falls – drowning.  Surely, every one of us knows that water is dangerous for young kids, but were you aware that water is all that dangerous?

  The Joshua Collingsworth Memorial Foundation sent us a reminder card this year, asking that South Boston Online repeat last year’s warning.  So, we’ll do just that, using capital letters.  That’s not good journalistic writing but it sticks out:  “THE #1 CAUSE OF UNINTENTIONAL DEATH TO CHILDREN AGES 1 TO 5 IS DROWNING!  Water is fun, but only with an adult standing by.”

  To bring it home, this year there have already been more than 30 drownings in the U.S.  Just in the last week or so, a young woman was swept off a sandbar at Plum Island and a boy fell into the Merrimack River.  South Boston is noted for its compassion towards kids.  Let that good feeling extend to taking a few minutes to talk to your own kids about water safety.

  It wouldn’t hurt to think about other potential hazards around the old hometown, either.  Please watch for young people crossing streets, who may have just gotten out of school and are distracted by thoughts of the summer vacation.  Especially after dark, watch for young pedestrians, and please come to a complete stop whenever you come to a sign.  Drive carefully – no cell phones or any other electronic devices, please.  You simply can’t concentrate on driving while you are using them.

  We’ll repeat a warning from years past.  According to a City of Boston ordinance, charcoal-fired grilles are not allowed on any decks or porches at all.  Propane-fired grilles are allowed only on ground level decks of residences – never on an upper floor and never (!) on a roof.

  Memorial Day has passed.  Summer has unofficially started in South Boston.  Please have an enjoyable season.  But above all, have a safe season.