Lancaster County Forensic Center

Pools are open and summer fun has begun!

The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office would like to remind the public how they can help keep their families and children safe during water activities this summer. Whether it is recreational boating or backyard swimming pools, water safety is important for all water activities. Come see us at the West Hempfield and Manor Township National Night Out, in August, to learn more about water safety!

While water safety is important for all ages, it is especially important for children. Drowning is the leading cause of injury death in children ages 1-4, and the 2nd leading cause of injury death in children ages 5-14. Young children can drown in as little as 1-2 inches of water, and it can happen quickly and silently. The biggest drowning threat that families with children face is unexpected, unsupervised access to water. Approximately 70% of drowning deaths occur during non-swim times. Swimming pools, hot tubs and spas, bathtubs, natural bodies of water such as ponds, and standing water in homes should all be considered potential drowning risks.

The Lancaster County Coroner’s Office recommends the following water safety tips, for all members of your family:

• Never swim alone.

• Provide "touch" or "arms-length away" supervision to children under the age of 5 whenever they are in the water.

• Wear bright, high-visibility swimwear to increase the chances of being seen underneath the water. (See the attached images for help choosing proper swimwear colors)

• Know what to do in a water emergency – including how to help someone who is in trouble in the water, call for emergency help, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

• Make sure all members of your household learn how to swim and have good water competency skills.

• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or fishing, even if you do not intend to enter the water.

• At the beach, always swim in a lifeguarded area.

• Employ multiple layers of protection such as barriers to prevent access to water, life jackets/personal floatation devices (PFD), and close supervision of children to prevent drowning. (See more information below regarding PFDs)

• Adults should take turns as 15-minute “Water Watchers” to provide close and constant attention to children they are supervising. Do not use cell phones or allow any distractions while being a 'Water Watcher'.

• Teach children to always ask permission before going near water.

• Fence backyard pools and spas with adequate 4-foot high barriers, including four-sided fencing that separates the water from the house.

• For young children: Empty water containers – such as buckets, wading pools, and coolers containing melted ice – immediately after use.

Personal Floatation Device (PFD) Information:

PFDs come in a variety of shapes, colors, and materials. Always look for the United States Coast Guard (USCG) approval number on any PFD you buy. It is important to make sure that you get one that is right for you and your children as well as the water conditions you expect to encounter. Test out PFDs prior to a vacation or water activity, and ensure they are a snug fit. To ensure a proper fit for children, pick the child up by the shoulders of the PFD - if the PFD fits correctly, the child's chin and ears will not slip through.

Remember: A PFD is not a substitute for adult supervision. NEVER leave a child unattended in or near the water.

Source credits: ALIVE Solutions, Airhead Sports Group, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The American Red Cross, and The American Academy of Pediatrics

On September 13, 2023 at 6:10am, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office was notified of a fatal residential fire that occurred on South Main Street in Manheim Borough. The incident occurred in a building that housed multiple second and third floor apartments. A coroner investigator arrived on the scene and pronounced one of the residents, 61-year-old Lori Rehkugler, deceased.

Rehkugler was transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for a further examination. Her cause of death was determined to be Smoke Inhalation and Thermal Burns. The manner of death was Accidental.

At 7:14 am on August 6, 2023, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to Valley Road in Eden Township for a motor vehicle crash involving a pickup truck and a horse-drawn buggy. Coroner investigators arrived and observed an adult Amish male and female, identified as 71-year-old Jacob Stoltzfus and 70-year-old Annie Stoltzfus, husband and wife from Eden Township. A coroner investigator pronounced both deceased at the scene. The couple were occupants of a horse-drawn buggy at the time of the crash. A physical assessment at the scene by a coroner investigator revealed significant trauma.

Both individuals were transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for further investigation. Their cause and manner of death are currently pending.

At 10:54am on July 24, 2023, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office responded to the scene of a farming accident involving a mule drawn wagon, on Fulton Britain Road in Little Britain Township. A coroner investigator arrived and pronounced a 5-year-old Amish male, of Little Britain Township, deceased. The manner of death was ruled Accidental.