It’s summer in Massachusetts and it’s been hot. For me, I love both of these environments. Give me hot weather over any of the other seasons (especially winter.)
A surprisingly high percentage of homes in Massachusetts and New England have backyard swimming pools – whether in-ground or above-ground. I’ve always found this a bit unusual – I mean, this isn’t Texas, Florida or Arizona – summers here are pretty brief, and heat waves don’t usually last 4-5 days. But regardless, those that have swimming pools, love them. What most pool owners don’t know, are that backyard swimming pools are a liability trap. In the law, they’re called an “attractive nuisance,” as they often draw young kids to them – and these environments are very dangerous. Consider this equation: No lifeguards + no life-saving equipment + running on slippery surfaces + rambunctious play. The sum of these dangerous parts? It’s often disaster.
Sadly, that’s what appeared to happen yesterday (July 11 2024,) at a backyard swimming pool in the town of Sutton. A call was placed into the Sutton Police Department at approximately 3:50 PM, reporting that a 4 year-old girl named Eva was missing, and that she was autistic. She was reportedly found about three hours later, unresponsive in a neighbor’s swimming pool. An awful outcome.