Children's Safety Zone

At last night’s City Council meeting, August was proclaimed “Drowning Impact Awareness Month” in the City of Yuma by Mayor Alan L. Krieger. This proclamation is also being made for the State of Arizona by Governor Jan Brewer.

The purpose is to raise awareness of the number of cases and the impact of child drowning in Arizona. Even though Arizona is considered a desert state, every year drowning incidents take the lives of the equivalent of a classroom full of children. Children 4 years old and younger are in the highest risk group.

Every year inArizonaan average of 100 people drown. So far this year, in thePhoenixarea alone, there have been 25 drowning deaths (5 of which were children) resulting from 81 water related incidents.Yumahas had its share of water incidents, 3 drowning deaths (two toddlers and an adult) have occurred and only quick action has saved other children from drowning.

Families can take simple steps to protect their children around water and avoid the tragedy of unnecessary loss of life. The most basic of these steps comes down to constant, responsible, focused, adult supervision of any child around water. Never let a child unattended around water for any length of time. It takes “just a few seconds” for a life to be lost and a family to be changed forever. All too often first responders hear “I only looked away for a few seconds” or “I thought someone else was watching them.”

Barrier fencing is another important safety factor for children around pools. Pool owners should ensure there are no gaps in their fencing and that self closing/self latching gates are working properly. Door alarms should tested, and kept in good working order (even if irritating, they are that way for a reason”ﾦto get your attention in a life threatening emergency). Even personal alarms are available to attach to a child that will activate when exposed to water. Temporary “summer” pools should be kept just as secure, inside fenced/secure areas and emptied when they are not being played in.

Keeping children healthy and safe are the goals of Fire Departments and other prevention institutions inArizona. “Drowning Impact Awareness Month” is one way to raise awareness and remind people that there is no substitute for constant, responsible, focused, (even relentless!) adult supervision of children around water. The consequences of failure are just too great”ﾦ

A baby was hospitalized after being found in a swimming pool not breathing on Saturday.

Phoenix Fire spokesman Tony Mure says a mother called 911 after finding her 22-month-old boy in a swimming pool near Estrella Drive and 51st Avenue.

Mure says CPR has already been started on the baby when paramedics arrived.

The boy still wasn’t breathing when he was transported to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

MESA, Ariz. — A 40-year-old man drowned in the Salt River near Blue Point Bridge on Thursday, according to a spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy lake patrol divers found Luis Alberto Gutierrez in 15 feet of water at 6:00 p.m., about two hours after responding to a drowning call.

He was found near the area where he was reported going under the water.

According to witnesses, the victim was swimming with another individual across the river, a distance of about 50 yards, when he went under.

Authorities were called to the scene of two emergencies at Lake Pleasant Saturday afternoon.

In the first incident, a California man was injured trying to help his daughter.

According to a Peoria Fire Department spokeswoman, an inner tube was attached to a boat and the inner tube started to blow off the boat.

Amanda Jacinto said the girl got her arm stuck in the rope and her father tried to get the girl.

In the process, his hand got caught in the rope and part of his hand was severed. He reportedly severed several fingers.

He was airlifted to a Valley hospital. His injury is serious but not life threatening, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Shortly after this incident, an approximately 36-year-old man began to struggle in the water.

Firefighters helped get him to shore. According to MCSO, the man was disoriented and spitting up water.

He was also taken to a Valley hospital by helicopter for treatment.

A 4-year-old boy is lucky to be alive after his 10-year-old cousin pulled him from a backyard pool Monday afternoon.

Avondale Fire Department officials say the boy was found around 1:45 p.m. at the bottom of a pool near 115th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road.

Officials say the boy’s 10-year-old cousin jumped in the pool and pulled the boy out. CPR was performed on the boy until he started breathing again.

He was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital in stable condition, officials at the scene said.