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Study tracks where kids drown

02:29 AM CDT on Wednesday, June 6, 2007

By Dave Fehling / 11 News

It has been a tragic few days with local children drowning in pools, ponds, creeks, and the Gulf.

At Texas Children's Hospital, they mapped every incident where a child was rushed to the ER after falling into water.

"It’s important the people know what happens commonly,” said Dr. Rohit Shenoi.

Two years ago, doctors were just starting a new study. And now, the results are in.

The study found that by far the most accidents are happening in swimming pools but also in bathtubs, rarely in ponds or bayous.

Many of the accidents are at houses, a few less at apartments.

Where in the city are they worse?

For apartments, hotspots show up in areas of southwest Houston where complexes built years ago with pools for swinging singles are now home mostly to families with young children and working parents.

For houses, pool accident hotspots include the neighborhoods of Clear Lake near NASA, the Heights and the far west side.

So what good is it to have the information? Doctors at Texas Children's are using it to get the word out, about whose children are drowning and where.

With this information we have the power to go out and educate,” said Dr. Hannah Smitherman.

A mother of three herself, Dr. Smitherman said if you have a pool, no child should ever be allowed near it without constant supervision.

"There is no way to drown-proof your child,” she said. “Even if they know how to swim, they should be supervised."

Advice to save lives in a city where children are drowning in their own backyards.

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