Adam Finkel states that the 4-year-old autistic boy who the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office reports drowned in a retention pond at Baymeadows last night did not have to meet this fate.
>> WATCH ACTION NEWS JAX STREAM <<
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks ]
We have the ability to protect children's lives and enhance the safety of our neighborhood," stated Finkel, who works as an attorney at Haggard Law Firm. "We ought not to postpone action until disaster strikes; collectively, we should insist on greater measures.
Finkel advocates for families of children who have tragically drowned in retention ponds, such as the family of 2-year-old Musiq Jordan-Dye, who Action News Jax reported that you died from drowning last year.
He was heading to meet another A family from Jacksonville who lost their child due to a drowning in a retention pond happened when they passed through Baypointe North, the area where the 4-year-old tragically drowned on Tuesday evening.
"There are significantly too many drowning incidents throughout the U.S. We can implement simple measures to reduce these occurrences," stated Finkel.
The Florida Autism Society indicates that the state tops the nation in child drowning fatalities. It also states that drowning is the primary cause of death among children with autism, noting that these children tend to be more drawn to water compared to their neurotypical peers. According to the CDC, most young children who drown in retention ponds are four years old or younger.
The JSO continues to investigate the circumstances leading to the 4-year-old's drowning in the pond. However, he mentions that the incident occurred near a pond off Star Drive approximately at 6:50 PM, just under 90 minutes after law enforcement received a report of a missing child. It’s reported that authorities deployed a helicopter to assist in locating the boy, who later succumbed to his condition in the hospital after being rescued from the pond.
Finkel suggests there's an easy fix to stop these fatalities.
"You can have a barrier that won’t disturb anyone yet will protect children's lives," Finkel stated.
The police indicate that the 4-year-old drowned in a pond without a surrounding fence. In Florida, there isn't a legal requirement for installing fences around retention ponds. The law does The ponds should not exceed a depth of one foot for every four feet in length.
Finkel advocates for updating regulations concerning retention ponds in Florida, yet acknowledges that currently, it's left to homeowners and property managers like those at DR Horton—who oversees numerous communities including Baypointe North across northeastern Florida and throughout the U.S.—to determine whether fencing should be installed as a safety measure.
Finkel mentions that the company is among the entities renters can reach out to if they wish for fencing around retention ponds in their area.
"Contact your landlord, reach out to your property manager, and get in touch with the owners of the complex. Ask them, 'We have these stormwater management systems and ponds within our community. What measures are being taken to ensure compliance with the required safety regulations?' " Finkel advised.
The child who tragically passed away at four years old remains unidentified. Action News Jax continues to monitor the investigation and will offer new developments both on television and online.
[SIGN UP: Jax Action News Daily Headlines Newsletter ]
Click here To get the free Action News Jax news and weather applications, click here To get the Action News Jax Now app onto your smart TV for downloading, click here To watch Action News Jax streaming live.