The Department of Children and Families is investigating the drowning deaths of two Daytona Beach toddlers.

A family member asked for privacy to deal with the deaths of the 1 and 2-year-old children who drowned in a family pool at the home.

"It's a tragedy, it happens, you know. But I'm asking if you guys could just let them [have] peace for the chance to mourn," asked family member, Daniele Davis.

Anthony Carter was outside his home just before 11:30 a.m. Thursday when he said Martha Jenkins ran outside the home on Valencia Avenue screaming.

"She kept running in the house, running out, she fell on the ground, like falling in the grass, just tumbling," said Carter.

Sheriff's deputies arrived shortly after and pulled two toddlers, 1-year-old Ashton Jenkins, Martha Jenkins’s grandson, and 2-year-old Shana Cavanaugh, Jenkins’s daughter, from an unmaintained, dirty pool.

According to a sheriff's office spokesman, two adults and another child, 5, were inside the home at the time of the incident.

A spokesman with DCF said the 5-year-old who was inside the house taken into protective custody. That spokesman also said another 3-year-old and his mother live in the home.

DCF advised them to stay away from the house because of safety concerns. The spokesman was not clear if the pool was the safety concern, or if there were other issues inside the house.

Preventing drowning deaths

According to DCF, Florida loses more children under the age of five to drowning than any other state in the nation. There are steps to take to prevent drowning deaths.

  • SUPERVISION: Someone should always be actively watching children when they are in the pool. This means don’t play around on your phone or get involved in a big conversation while watching the kids. Drowning can happen in just a few minutes. Designate a “Water Watcher” to keep an eye on swimmers.
  • BARRIERS: A child should never be able to enter the pool area unaccompanied by an adult. Barriers physically block a child from the pool. Barriers include: child-proof locks on all doors, a pool fence with self-latching and self-closing gates, as well as door and pool alarms. Pool covers may also be used but make sure it is a professional cover fitted for your pool. A simple canvas covering can be a drowning hazard and entrap a child in the water. Florida law requires barriers for home pools.
  • SWIMMING LESSONS: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children ages 4 and older learn to swim in order to help prevent drowning. It also encourages caregivers of children ages 1-3 to consider swim instruction for their child, as studies have shown it reduces drowning incidents. Caregivers should learn to swim as well.  To find swimming lessons in your area, contact your local YMCA, city facilities, or swim school or call 2-1-1. Many of these programs have scholarships available.
  • EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: The moment a child stops breathing there is a small, precious window of time in which resuscitation may occur, but only if someone knows what to do. Even if you’re not a parent, it’s important to learn CPR. The techniques are easy to learn and can mean the difference between life and death. In an emergency, it is critical to have a phone nearby and immediately call 911. To learn more about CPR or find a CPR certification course, call 2-1-1 or visit the American Red Cross or American Heart Association.