She and her family had gathered to celebrate a birthday with a pool party. Jennifer, a self-proclaimed helicopter mom, was nervous about keeping track of her 5-year-old autistic son during the party. Besides being autistic, he is legally blind and in need of constant attention. To ease her mind, she invited her sister to attend and help manage her son and 2-year-old daughter, Reagan.

During the poolside fun, Jennifer stepped away to take her son to the bathroom. She asked a family member to change Reagan’s clothes. The family member thought Reagan had followed Jennifer into the house. Everyone appeared to be safe and accounted for.

They weren’t.

Jennifer remembers the next few moments in a blur.

Reagan at the bottom of the pool, tucked into a fetal position. Chaos and screaming. Someone doing CPR. Her daughter’s eyes rolled back in her head. Blue lips, not breathing. Fearing the worst when Reagan didn’t respond. The blaring siren of the ambulance. A doctor at the hospital telling them Reagan was under water for 2 to 4 minutes and would likely have brain damage if she regained consciousness. Her tiny daughter lying in a hospital bed on life support.

“You can be right there and not know someone is drowning,” Jennifer says. “There’s a misunderstanding about drowning that you would hear something, and you don’t. They can’t scream; they’re gasping for breath.”

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 300 children drown in swimming pools every year. And for every child who drowns, another five receive emergency care for nonfatal submersion injuries.

Fortunately, Reagan was in the nonfatal category. She recovered and has some eyesight and hearing issues. But she has no memory of the near-drowning.

The experience changed Jennifer. “It was a mother’s worst nightmare,” she says. “Even now I can tell the story, but I don’t like to think about it.”

But she does. Jennifer chose to share her story with other parents so they would not have to experience the same horrible situation. She is a water safety champion, speaking to numerous groups about the Water Watcher program and being an active member of Safe Kids Coalition, supported by a grant from State Farm^®.

When sharing her story with a group, Jennifer struggles with the memories from that day. “I understand that I can’t keep my children safe in all situations. All I can do is my best. And my best consists of educating myself and others in regards to safety procedures, preventative measures and praying. Lots of praying,” Jennifer says.

The Water Watchers program advocates tags to be worn by the designated adult watching children in and around the pool or water. It also advocates other safety measures such as fences, alarms, life jackets and swim lessons.

“In my mind, the only way I can understand something unfathomable is to do something good with it,” she says. “I never thought it could happen to me. I learned the hard way it can happen and it only takes a few seconds.”

Americans love taking summer road trips and vacations, and 91% are taken in a personal vehicle. Between the Memorial and Labor Day holidays over 650 million trips will be made.¹

Having a breakdown along the way or returning to a home that’s been burglarized can put a damper on your good times. We've compiled lots of tips to help protect your car, home and family. Click the links below in preparation for your summer fun!

Before you go, prepare your home and vehicle.

At home make it look like you never left: leave some lights on, lock up and stop your mail and newspapers.

Prepare your car for the road ahead: check tire air pressure, replace worn wiper blades and inspect the AC and brakes.

These are just a start, click here to learn more!

Stay safe along the way.

Getting there can be half the fun...or not! To help ensure you'll be happily singing “On the Way to Cape May” instead of dealing with unpleasantries -- click here!

Safely make the most of your vacation.

So many vacation options: water fun, camping, grilling...these tips and helpful info can help you safely avoid mishaps. Go here!

¹ - statisticbrain.com

As a driver, your responsibility is to know the law and protect those in your vehicle. Infants and toddlers need special care and safety seats are required by law in all 50 states.

Some states even have laws that require your furry friends to be restrained. New Jersey, for example, requires pets to be in a restraint or a carrier in the car. The fine for this violation is anywhere from $250 to $1000. Check with your department of motor vehicles or veterinary office for information on pet restraint in your state.

According to Actress and The Pet Lifestyle Coach®, Megan Blake, "unrestrained pets in cars pose serious potential risks, including becoming a major distraction to drivers; and unrestrained pets can easily be seriously injured, killed or even lost after being thrown from a car."

"Dogs, like children, should never be allowed to ride with their heads out the windows," says Megan. "Flying debris, including bugs, could harm them, and their lungs or ears could be injured from high-speed wind."

Keep SUMMER FUN as a driver by following these tips:

Start your trip with GPS and music set; phone stowed. Keep children and pets content by bringing along a favorite toy, treat, or blanket. Always drive 2N2^®- 2 eyes on the road, 2 hands on the wheel.

Understand the laws for passenger restraint. Both child and pet passengers require special attention. No passengers belong on a lap or in the bed of a pick-up truck.

Make sure that the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) of your vehicle is in good condition before your trip begins. This will be especially important for those longer trips. Keep a spare charging cable and car charger in your car for your phone.

Make it a point to pull over if a child or pet needs attention, or if you feel tired or drowsy. This way you keep your eyes on the road.

Eating along the way may be necessary, but you should pull over for this, too. Pack snacks and drinks for everyone, including pets, for convenience.

Remove loose objects from your vehicle, they can become projectiles in a crash, causing injury to people or pets. In the event of a crash, unsecured pets may become frightened and jump from open windows.

Forbid paws and heads from being out the window. This applies to both 2-legged and 4-legged passengers. They could be injured by flying debris.

Understand construction may be underway along your route. Plan ahead and find alternate routes and pet-friendly stops, helping to get you to your destination on schedule.

Never leave children or pets in cars alone for any period of time. Temperatures can rise 19 degrees in just 10 minutes, putting them at risk.

For more Auto Safety tips and information, visit the State Farm Learning Resource Center.

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Drive safely with pets

It’s that time of year…the sizzle of the grill, the smell of fresh cut grass, flowers in bloom, family vacations, baseball, and of course cooling off while enjoying the water. Unfortunately, along with the fun being in and around water can bring, it is also the time of year when we hear and read about the tragedy of water related accidents and deaths.

An alarming fact to consider is how fast it happens.

This summer, you can be a good neighbor by making your pool safer for kids. Call a specialist in your area for an inspection and remember these tips:

1. If it’s not a designated time for enjoying the pool, make it impossible for the kids to sneak out alone.

2. Restrict access to above ground pools.

3. Make sure your pool is surrounded by a fence.

And whether you are at the pool or the beach, here are a few things to do when you’re with kids around water:

4. Be part of the action

5. Keep your eyes on the kids at all times. Always stay within arm’s reach of young children and put down the phones.

6. Remember, friends make everything more fun!

Enjoy your summer and keep your family safe. Visit www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/water-safety for more safety tips.