On July 1st, the Baltimore County Council will consider legislation that requires an Automatic External Defibrillator at any swimming pool or bathing beach owned by the county or a private club. This bill will also require that someone is on hand who is trained in how to use one of these life-saving devices.
The county legislation mirrors a state law named for 5-year old Connor Freed, who drowned in June 2006 while at the Crofton Country Club in Anne Arundel County. According to news articles, Connor drowned while in five feet of water while underneath an empty lifeguard chair. A patron of the pool spotted Connor’s lifeless body and pulled him out of the water, but personnel claimed they were not allowed to use the club’s Automatic External Defibrillator.
The legislation is sponsored by Councilman Tom Quirk, and I am a cosponsor along with Councilman Ken Oliver.
Drowning is the leading cause of death among children aged one to four, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it is the fifth leading cause of death for people of all ages. This is a public safety measure, and we should not have to wait for a tragedy to implement these requirements.