Drowned toddler’s family launches foundation to save lives
On Oct. 9 Missy Castillo’s heart sank. She was doing laundry while her 19-month-old son Gio, who had been playing throughout her Cathedral City home, got outside without her knowing.
“My husband got up and noticed the back door was open. When I came down the hallway that’s when my husband came running in screaming. My son was dripping wet so I knew what happened,” she said.
Gio had drowned. He was rushed to the hospital and died Nov. 11 at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital.
He loved the water and his Mommy and Me swim lessons, but he had yet to learn to swim. Surviving with only 19 months of memories, Castillo said she will always live with regret.
“I was always very careful, but the thing I did not do was put a fence around my pool,” she said. “That definitely could’ve saved my son’s life if I had a fence.”
In Gio’s honor, Castillo and her loved ones launched the Swim for Gio Foundation, spreading awareness and creating a scholarship fund to help families pay for swim lessons, pool fences and CPR training.
The foundation is partnering with David Heil, a certified instructor for Infant Swimming Resource to save lives. Every day, at least 55 children unsupervised across the country nearly drown. Of all children who drown, 63 percent are 4 years old and under, according to ISR. Drownings could happen in as little as 1 inch of water.
Heil said the No. 1 prevention of drowning is adult supervision.
“But if that breaks down, it’s really important children have the skills they need to rescue themselves. So we teach them to go on their back and float at a young age. When they can walk we teach them to swim. If they can float they can survive,” said Heil.
ISR is an eight-week one-on-one self rescue training for children 6 months old to 6 years old.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s nice to know if he ends up outside in the back, it’s still scary, but I know he’ll be safe in the water and really that means the world that we’ll be living in a place with a pool,” said Randy Ryan, an ISR parent.
Castillo hopes Gio’s life will leave a legacy.
“I just had a baby. She has a big brother she’ll never meet, but I don’t want her to look at him as the big brother who died in the pool. I want her to remember him as the one who helped save other children,” said Castillo.
The Swim for Gio Foundation will host its first fundraiser, a softball tournament here in the desert on Oct. 3-4. The location is still to be determined.
For more information regarding scholarships and how you can help, visit the Swim for Gio Facebook Page or email swim4gio@gmai.com
For questions regarding ISR lessons, contact David Heil at 818-602-9134 or visit isrpalmsprings.com.
