The tragic death of a 4-year-old St. Charles boy at a Royal Fox Country Club pool is one of four drowning deaths in the Chicago area this weekend, according to the Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and other media sources.

Kane County Coroner Rob Russell told the the Daily Herald on Monday that an autopsy has confirmed the St. Charles boy’s death as a drowning. State health officials identified him Monday as Paulino F. Delle Grazie of St. Charles.

Firefighters responded to the the country club, 4405 Royal and Ancient Dr., a little after 3 p.m. Saturday.

The Kane County Chronicle reported that the incident is under investigation by the St. Charles Police Department.

The Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating the Royal Fox facility and conditions that might have led to the downing, according to the Daily Herald report. A state officials told the Daily Herald that if the swimming code was not followed, a range of penalties could be made, including revocation of the pool’s license.

Three other weekend drownings call attention to the issue of pool and open-water safety.

CBS2 reports that two boys drowned Saturday in a pond in Hobart, Ind. Terrion Smith, 8, and Donel Smith, 9, apparently could not swim, according to reports, but went into a pond that was formed by water filling a pit on private property. Friends went to get help when they realized the boys were in trouble, but it was too late.

In Morris, a 3-year-old from Rockford named Liam Vaughn drowned in an above-ground pool while at a family gathering. According to reports, he had been wearing infatable “floaties” but took them off after getting something to eat.

PoolSafely.gov, a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission program, offers resources to encourage kids and adults to take a few simple steps to increase awareness and make the pool a safer place for kids.

Stay Close, Be Alert and Watch Children in and Around the Pool

• Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water
• Teach children basic water safety tips
• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments
• Have a telephone close by when you or your family is using a pool or spa
• If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first
• Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors

Learn and Practice Water-Safety Skills

• Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim
• Learn to perform CPR on children and adults, and update those skills regularly
• Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency

Have the Appropriate Equipment for Your Pool

• Install a four-foot or taller fence around the pool and spa and use self-closing and self-latching gates; ask your neighbors to do the same at their pools.
• Install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa.
• If your house serves as a fourth side of a fence around a pool, install door alarms and always use them. For additional protection, install window guards on windows facing pools or spas.
• Install pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go near the water
• Ensure any pool and spa you use has compliant drain covers, and ask your pool service provider if you do not know
• Maintain pool and spa covers in good working order
• Consider using a surface wave or underwater alarm

– See more at: http://www.poolsafely.gov/parents-families/simple-steps-save-lives/#sthash.hZYFqmpL.dpuf

Read More

• Chicago Tribune: 4 children die in drowning accidents in Chicago area
• CBS2: 4 kids drown in 3 weekend accidents
• Kane County Chronicle: Boy, 4, drowns at Royal Fox
• PoolSafety.gov: Simple Steps to Save Lives