Granger Smith’s tragedy: What you need to know about drowning risks

Country music fans are mourning with singer Granger Smith after the father of three revealed his youngest, 3-year-old son River, died this week.

“Amber and I made the decision to say our last goodbyes and donate his organs so that other children will be given a second chance at life,” Smith captioned a photo of himself with River in happier times.

Representatives for Smith confirmed river “died in a tragic drowning accident at home,” People reports.

River’s death comes just over a year after another high profile couple, athletes Bode and Morgan Miller, lost their daughter after a swimming pool drowning. The Millers have since become vocal advocates for water safety. The CDC notes that drowning is the leading cause of death for children under 4 (except congenital anomalies), something many parents don’t know. The Millers have spent the last year making sure that more parents know how many children die from drowning every year.

Water safety tips:

• If you have a pool: Install a 4-sided fence that is at least 4 feet tall and separates the pool from the house and the rest of the yard from the pool. Make sure you select a gate that is self-closing and self- latching to minimize the risk of having the gate be left open.

• If you’re visiting a home with a pool or hot tub: Make sure all gates, patio door and other means of pool access are secured and follow the tips below.

• Always assign an adult supervisor: The Mayo Clinic recommends that when kids are using a pool, parents take turns as the “designated watcher” so that one adult is always focused on the kids and CDC wants supervisors of preschool children to be close enough to reach the child at all times.

• Keep toys away from the pool: The CDC suggests that as soon as pool time is over, parents put away any toys, floats or other fun objects that may be in or around the pool. Removing the toys removes an element of temptation for children.

• Take swimming lessons: According to the AAP, “children over age one may be at a lower risk of drowning if they have had some formal swimming instruction. However, there is no evidence that swimming lessons or water survival skills courses can prevent drowning in babies younger than one year of age.”

• Take a CPR course: When seconds count, you want to be ready to do everything possible to save a child.

You might also like:

• Parents need to know more about the risks surrounding drowning, say grieving moms
• Bode and Morgan Miller share powerful message about pool safety
• Bode Miller’s baby son learns how to swim in a touching video