Drownings in the area (Brockton, Framingham: house, movies, school)

[msRB311]

It's only may and there's already been 4 drownings in the area this year. 2 were 12 and 13 yr old boys in Brockton, another a 16 yr old in Framingham and now a 39 yr old dad at houghtons pond Milton. The dad apparently went in to get a soccer ball:

https://www.boston25news.com/news/lo...LDDRNONUGDCUI/

It's sad and tragic but these aren't young children and it's happening in ponds not the oceans where there's waves and currents. Seems odd. Do that many people not learn how to swim these days ? Seems hard to imagine being in an area near the ocean and many ponds.

[CaseyB]

Houghton's Pond seems to have a lot of drownings.

[Lampert]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Do that many people not learn how to swim these days ? Seems hard to imagine being in an area near the ocean and many ponds.

It doesn't say about this guy but all the other deaths are people that don't know how to swim, it says so on the links in your article.

I guess the bottom line is: don't play in the water if you can't swim. Btw it is also much harder to swim in fresh water than in salt water, so while some people may feel safer in a small pond if they are bad swimmers, they could actually be at greater risk, especially if there is a sudden drop in the pond.

[msRB311]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

Houghton's Pond seems to have a lot of drownings.

Yeah this is definitely not the first drowning there. There are also life guards on duty there as well. Could have something to do with the demographics of people who frequent Houghtons pond.

[msRB311]

I feel like it's a parents job to make sure their kids know how to swim for these very reasons. Learning to swim should not be a privilege. It's a basic survival skill that many seem to not have.

And yes by all means if you can't swim stay away from the water. I'm aware that these kids didn't know how to swim. My wonder is at why by age 12, 13 and 16 do kids not know how to swim.

[msRB311]

The 2 boys from Brockton who drowned had just moved here from Cape Verde last year.

[msRB311]

A 38 yr old man drowned at houghtons pond about a year ago:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.pat...m/amp/42504731

Seems like a downright dangerous place for many people to be.

[massnative71]

Houghton's Pond is cloudy/murky, and with some significant drops offs that aren't visible. Add in visitors who can't swim, it's a recipe for trouble.

[charolastra00]

Swimming is no longer a part of most school PE curriculums the way it seems to have been in the past (or at least based on how my parents and boyfriend's parents were raised). While everyone should go to swim classes when they're young, many families can't afford it or don't fully understand the dangers. It's so easy to look at a calm pond or pool and be lulled into thinking it's safe for people who either can't swim or who are weak swimmers. Most people also don't know what to look for when someone is drowning - it's much less dramatic than our mental picture from TV or movies.



Are there debris in Houghton's Pond? I'm not familiar with it. Growing up there was a lake nearby that was a dammed up river to form a reservoir in the 50s. The project flooded whole towns and trees, so there's just a lot of stuff down there in the deeper areas that would float to the mid-depths and occasionally catch even strong swimmers. Obviously that's not the situation at Houghton's Pond, but even a small amount of debris in deep water can catch people off guard - especially if they're tired or have been drinking. Getting your ankle caught on a tree branch can turn you around and with nothing to kick off of, you don't know which way is up, particularly in fresh water.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by msRB311

Yeah this is definitely not the first drowning there. There are also life guards on duty there as well. Could have something to do with the demographics of people who frequent Houghtons pond.

Lifeguards are not yet on duty at Houghton's Pond.

Yes, it could be demographics. 70 % of Black and 60% of Hispanic children do not know how to swim versus 40% of white children. Much of that comes from lack of programs targeting them where they live and the simple fact that it's not encouraged by their parents.

A few years ago, Brandon Bass - then 28 and a member of the Celtics - decided to learn how to swim. His son was the first one in his family to learn. He had the means to pay for his kids to learn and owning a house on a lake was a factor.

Look at the Olympic swim teams - not much color there.