Children's Safety Zone

A 2-year-old girl was released from the hospital Monday after nearly drowning in a septic tank on Sunday, according to the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s just overwhelming that she’s perfect and I get to hold her and be with her more,” said the child’s mother Emily Howard. “I’m amazed and I love her and I’m never letting her out of my sight again, ever.”

It was reported on the 49300 block of West Papago Road, near the city of Maricopa.

Sheriff’s office spokesman Tim Gaffney said the tank had a plastic cover but it apparently collapsed when the child stepped on it.

“She was right in front of me when she fell, but I dropped to my knees and tried to grab her,” said Howard. “The water was too deep to reach where she was in the bottom, and I started screaming ‘she fell, she fell, somebody please get her out.'”

She was pulled from the tank and given CPR.

Jeff Vaughn thought he would be spending the day selling some of his crafts in Maricopa. He had no idea he would end up helping rescue a child from such a terrifying situation.

“All of the sudden someone said a little girl fell down the well,” said Vaughn.

Vaughn, who is a grandfather, said he ran toward the child’s scream and dove head first into the narrow opening and grabbed the little girl out of the tank.

At the same time, another man held onto Vaughn’s ankles and together they pulled the child out of the septic tank that was filled with raw sewage.

The child wasn’t breathing, according to Vaughn. It was then that a woman ran over and began giving the child CPR.

“After doing CPR for awhile, she started crying and that was the best thing to hear,” said Vaughn.

Paramedics transported her to Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa.

Her condition is unknown, but Gaffney said she was crying on the way to the hospital.

There is a concern about infection because of the exposure to raw sewage.

A 13-month-old boy is lucky to be alive after falling into a backyard pool in Tempe Wednesday afternoon.Tempe police spokesman Mike Pooley said the incident happened around 2:15 p.m. near Guadalupe and Kyrene Roads.

via PD: 10-year-old pulls toddler from backyard pool in Tempe.

We’ve had 23 water-related accidents in Phoenix this year. Police and firefighters all around the valley want to bring that number down “ﾓ including in Tempe.

They’re using the child’s point of view to demonstrate just how easy it is for them to fall into a pool.

The perspective we see in this public service announcement is very different from others. It’s that of a child, drowning. A very grim reminder to parents that eye to eye contact around water is the difference between life and death.

The video is dramatic, the struggle obvious. A young child fighting to stay afloat, battling for her last breath. She doesn’t stand a chance.

“It was really fast it looked like she struggled for a little bit and then that was it.”

Parents we showed the video to were awestruck by the severity of the message, and surprised by how quickly a drowning can happen even when adults are around.

“We came up with this concept of our camera man actually going underwater, being the child,” says Sue Taeffe, spokesperson for Tempe Fire.

Taeffe says the PSA is all about eye to eye supervisions — a reminder that vigilance — watching your kids around water is the only way to prevent a drowning.

“We were thinking about how quiet a drowning can be, you know, you can be inside, even outside, maybe on the other side of your yard and the next thing you know your child is in the pool.”

This staged video is a minute long, the same amount of time it can take a young child to drown. Whether it’s a pool, the bathtub or toilet, it can happen anywhere any time of year.

“Accidents happen everywhere and so that video is pretty intense.”
FOX 10 News | myfoxphoenix.com

The Tucson Fire Department is sending out a reminder to parents and guardians this weekend following a near drowning late Friday night.

Units from TFD responded to the area of Tanque Verde and Wilmot Road around 10:45 p.m. Friday for a call involving a 1-year-old.

When the first fire crew arrived CPR was being administered by a Tucson police officer, according to a press release. Tucson fire paramedics arrived on scene and immediately transported the child to the hospital for further medical care.    

Drowning is the No. 1 cause of unintentional death for children ages one to four years of age. It is called the “silent killer” because there are no cries for help. Living the “ABC’s” of pool safety is imperative to prevent a near drowning or worse, a drowning:
 
“A” is active adult supervision. This is the first and most important part. Watch children at all times around water.

“B” is barriers. Have a fence that encloses the pool or spa and make sure the gates are self-closing and self-latching.

“C” is classes. CPR for adults and age appropriate swim lessons for the children. Knowing CPR enables the parent to be a first responder.

The pool looks so inviting, especially when it’s so hot outside. But it can also be deadly for our kids.

That’s why SWIMkids USA is helping keep your family safe

Starting now through Monday, September 2, they are giving away water safety bags to make sure you have eyes on the water for the weekend.

These bags include a wrist coil with a whistle so adults can signal for help in case of an emergency.

There are also several fliers to help with drowning prevention and CPR, and a coupon good for one month of parent-tot lessons.

They only have 200 bags to give away and they will have them on hand until Monday.

Even more, SWIMkids USA offers free swim lessons for infants from newborns to six months on a regular basis.

It’s a half hour parent-tot class that is held Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m.

So get out and enjoy the water this Labor Day weekend, but make sure everyone is safe.

2725 W Guadalupe Rd  Mesa, AZ 85202
480-820-9109