SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP, Pa. – A recent drowning death has prompted the Lehigh County Coroner to ask people to keep water safety in mind as we enter the summer season.
Coroner Dan Buglio said his office responded Thursday to the area in the 300 block of Basin Street in Allentown where 17-year-old Ameer Simmons reportedly jumped from a railroad trestle into Jordan Creek, a tributary of Little Lehigh Creek, and did not resurface.
In addition to the coroner’s office, the Allentown Police Department, Allentown Fire Department Dive Team, Allentown EMS, Lehigh County Drone Team and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission also responded to and assisted with the investigation and recovery efforts.
“As we head into the warmer months and more people begin spending time around pools, lakes, rivers, creeks and streams, I want to remind everyone to be careful and use caution around the water,” Buglio said in a news release Friday.
“Every year, we respond to incidents that serve as a reminder of how quickly a day of recreation can turn into a tragedy.
“Natural waterways can be unpredictable, with changing currents, varying depths, hidden hazards, and cold water temperatures.
“Please keep a close eye on one another, avoid taking unnecessary risks, and never underestimate the dangers that water can present."
Buglio’s office also handled a water recovery on Saturday, May 23, when a 27-year-old Emmaus man was discovered submerged in a pond in the 8500 block of Allemaengel Road.
Buglio said Friday a ruling is still pending on that incident.
“Natural waterways can be unpredictable, with changing currents, varying depths, hidden hazards, and cold water temperatures."Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio
National Water Safety Month
The City of Allentown recently announced a joint initiative between its Department of Parks and Recreation, the Allentown Parknership, and River Crossing YMCA to provide free “Safety Around Water” lessons to all children enrolled in the City’s Summer Playground Program.
The announcement was timed with National Water Safety Month, an annual awareness campaign each May coordinated by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance with support from the American Red Cross.
Allentown’s program is a targeted effort to expand water-literacy resources for families as swimming season approaches, the city said in a news release.
Summer Playground attendees will be taken to Mack Pool for lessons during their time in the program.
“Every young person in Allentown deserves the opportunity to access water safely and confidently. Drowning remains the second leading cause of death for the age groups we serve through our summer playground program, which makes this work not only important but necessary,” said Lucinda Wright, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, in the release.
“This program is an intentional effort to ensure that youth across our city have access to the Safety Around Water curriculum while removing barriers such as cost, access, and limited resources that too often prevent participation.
The Department of Parks and Recreation is committed to creating meaningful impact through strong partnerships that deliver life-saving opportunities for families and youth across the City of Allentown.”
Registration for the Summer Playground Program is open and available at https://allentownpa.myrec.com.
Registration for residents interested in “Safety Around Water” lessons is available at www.ymcarivercrossing.org/events/free-lessons-cedar-beach
