Former NFL Quarterback Randall Cunningham's Son Drowns in Family Hot Tub

Former NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham's two-year old son, Christian, was found floating in the family hot tub by an unidentified woman. Attempts to revive the boy were unsuccessful.

According to ABC News, the woman found the child at around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. She then pulled him from the hot tub and began performing CPR. Police were notified at 4:45 p.m. Paramedics reportedly rushed the boy to St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena campus, where he died.

A Las Vegas police spokeswoman, Officer Barbara Morgan, told ABC News that the initial investigation has shown the drowning "was accidental and not neglect, but it is still an active investigation."

Child Drowning Statistics:
In 2007, the CDC reported that one in five drowning deaths occurred in children 14-years old and younger and is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in children ages 1-14.

Drowning Prevention:
More times than not, when someone is drowning, they are unable to make a sound due to water in the lungs. It's important for parents and caregivers to take appropriate measures and be vigilant to reduce the chance of a child drowning in their care. Measures adults can take to protect children from accidental drowning include:

- Installing fences around pools and hot tubs
- Removing ladders from above-ground pools
- Keeping a watchful eye on children at all times - This is especially true if parents are having a social gathering because everyone thinks someone else is keeping tabs on the children. It's not uncommon for a child to slip in the pool and drown before an adult notices.

- If you are in a boat with your child, make sure they have a proper fitting life jacket on them.

- Remove toys from the pool area - Don't allow toys to remain in the pool after the family has finished playing in it. A child who sees a toy floating in the pool may decide to go in after it that could lead to tragedy.

- Additionally, don't rely too heavily on those cute floatation devices that go on children's arms. There is no guarantee that these will work and aren't considered a life-saving device. These only provide a little extra buoyancy and should not be relied on to keep your child from drowing.

Know CPR:
All parents and other caregivers (grandparents, babysitters, etc.), regardless of whether you have a swimming pool or not, should know CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) in case of drowning, choking, or other emergency. Contact your local American Heart Association or your local American Red Cross for class information. It could save a life.

Sources:
Personal Experience - Parent, BLS/CPR Certified
Randall Cunningham's Son Drown's in Hot Tub - ABC News
CDC - Injury - Water-Related Injuries Fact Sheet

To Find a CPR Class in Your Area:
CPR and Emergency Cardiovascular Care