May 23, 2025: Influencer Drownings
Good Morning,
A few years ago, I watched a vlog on YouTube where an influencer explained every design decision in her then under-construction dream home. Panning over dirt in the backyard, she said "We've allocated money for a swimming pool, but we have no idea what we're doing!"
I reached out and had a virtual consultation with her & her husband. The second slide in my deck was a brutal discussion about the realities of owning a residential pool in a state with a hot climate - they had a toddler at the time.
She cried, he said this was a good wakeup call. The inground pool was built with a beautiful glass fence; she enrolled the child in self-rescue swim lessons (not my suggestion); and I connected her to a residential drowning technology manufacturer for a possible partnership and to ensure the family had several layers of protection. We all went on our merry way.
A year later, her nephew drowned in a pool.
It was his third birthday party; it appears he was discovered in the pool (not at her home) after everyone had gone indoors. CPR was given, but he was taken off life support a few days later. I know this because I found local news reports confirming "Emergency services responded to a reported drowning" at an address in her neighbourhood and because family members posted about it on social media.
ICYMI - this week People Magazine reported influencer Emilie Kiser's son, Trigg, died in hospital from complications after a drowning incident. Beyond the internet detective work last week, this has now been confirmed by the Chandler, Arizona Fire Department (I think it's safe to say) in coordination with the family.
Why should we even care? Rolling Stone does a great job analysing the nuance of this type of incident in our modern world.
As a water safety professional and consultant, I've always felt guilt that I didn't personally do more to impact the influencer I worked with. We'll never know exactly what happened; the family deserves their privacy; but the influencer and her husband were at the birthday party with her child. What made this situation different?
All of this has influenced my growing cynicism over the last few years that information booths, colouring sheets, cute animal mascots - everything I shared in the May 9 newsletter - clearly isn't working to prevent drowning fatalities. In aquatics, we clearly need to level up our game and became more direct: Mothers Against Drunk Driving changed social attitudes to drunk driving through impossible-to-miss Crashed Cars Campaign.
As much as they are willing and able, the children and families who live with the consequences of non-fatal drowning morbidity every single day need to be the focus of our water safety education. Nothing else is working.
To be clear: I don't think the drowning-related death of one influencer's child is any different or more important than the ongoing migrant refugee crisis in the Mediterranean; increasing infant bath tub fatalities; or open water boating incidents, but we as an industry have been lulled into thinking we're doing enough, and we are NOT.
Here are my the best aquatic industry news stories that cross my desk this week:
Kudos to the City of Edmonton (Alberta) for introducing a mandatory lifejacket bylaw after years of drownings on the North Saskatchewan River. Read about it here or see the bylaw here.
Protestors march outside Acadia University as pool closure looms
Edmonton may sell naming rights to pools, arenas and even Commonwealth Stadium and Edmonton council weighs pulling plug on selling name sponsorships
This matter is a moving target, with council going back and forth on what to do.
Utah family sues Wynn Resorts after near-drowning at Strip pool
I actually want to highlight something other than the lede: "Doctor rendered aid with Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris. Two weeks prior to the incident at Wynn, Morris had received special training in CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator that the NFL recommended after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan 2, 2023."
Healthy and Safe Swimming Week Campaign
Thank you to a health inspector friend who reminded me about the CDC's excellent annual campaign.
Scientists report the best way to make a huge splash when jumping in a pool
Bode Miller Opens Up About Grief and Healing 7 Years After Daughter’s Tragic Drowning (Exclusive)
Kudos to celebs like Miller and Amber & Grainger Smith who talk about their child's drownings publicly in an environment where they could just as easily be blamed.
In Hawaiʻi, Drowning Leading Cause Of Death For Tourists, Children Under 15
18-year-old Cal State Fullerton student drowns during Lake Havasu fraternity trip
Shark hunter deploys a drone at a Florida beach to save drowning girl’s life
US' Largest Indoor Splash Pad Opens At American Dream Mall With Boozy Perks For Grown-Ups Too
This is a redesign of the previous use of the space.
'I hate getting those calls' — Mayor ponders closing Windsor's only beach after latest drowning
The Enhanced Games Has a Date, a Host City, and a Drug-Fueled World Record
This is real (I think?), and includes swimming events.
Mother charged after 13-month-old dies in bathtub in Milwaukee
I've said this before, and I'll say it again: what purpose is served by charging a parent whose child dies?
Why America stopped building public pools
"In the early 2000s, Louisville had 10 public pools for a population of around 550,000.Today, the city has five public pools for a population of around 640,000, ranking 89 out of the largest 100 cities in swimming pools per person."
The 32 Best Hotel Pools for Scenic Swims
If you don't follow us on Facebook, every Friday afternoon we post a beautiful pool. This started a number of years ago because I wanted to showcase all of the beautiful projects we see in listicles like this.
Thank you for being here, and we'll see you next week!
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.