Children's Safety Zone

In anticipation of the thousands of gatherings around public and private pools over the Independence Day holiday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding parents and children alike of the steps they should take to stay safe when spending time in the water.

The July 4th holiday has traditionally seen an increase in the number of pool and spa drownings, compared to an average week over the rest of the summer. According to data compiled from media reports by USA Swimming, during the last three years over the week of July 4^th an average of 26 children drowned in pools and spas. In 2012, 30 pool or spa-related drownings were reported involving children younger than 15 over the week of the July 4 holiday (June 30 through July 6); in 2011, there were 25 drownings reported; and in 2010, 24 drownings for the same age range.

” I want families and friends to enjoy their time together in and around the pool during the July 4^th holiday,” Chairman Tenenbaum said. “But if past years are any guide, unless we all follow the simple safety steps around the pool, more than two dozen families will suffer a tragic loss during the week of Independence Day.”

“Teach your children how to swim, put a fence around the pool and designate a Water Watcher–an adult who knows how to swim to watch the children in and around the water at all times,” added Chairman Tenenbaum.

Annually, CPSC reports that nearly 300 children under the age of five drown in a pool or spa and another 5,100 children under the age of 15 go to hospital emergency rooms for near-drowning injuries. Children between the ages of 1 and 3 and African American children between the ages of 5 and 19 are most at risk of drowning.

CPSC’s Pool Safely campaign (PoolSafely.gov) is a national public education effort to reduce child drownings, near-drownings and entrapments in swimming pools and spas. For the second year, the campaign is focusing on populations most at risk of drowning.

CPSC reminds all families to take the following steps to ensure that their time at the pool is safe for everyone “ﾓ not just during the July 4^th holiday, but all year long: 

Staying Close, Being Alert and Watching Children in and Around the Pool

• Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your children closely around all bodies of water. Designate a water watcher to supervise children in the pool or spa. This person should not be reading, texting, using a smart phone or otherwise distracted. Adults can take turns being a Water Watcher.
• Teach children basic water safety tips.
• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments.
• Have a telephone close by when you or your family are using a pool or spa.
• If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first.
• Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors.

Learning and Practicing Water Safety Skills

• Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.
• Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults, and update those skills regularly.
• Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency.

Having the Appropriate Equipment for Your Pool or Spa

• Install a four-foot or taller fence around the perimeter of the pool and spa and use self-closing and self-latching gates; ask your neighbors to do the same at their pools.
• Install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa.
• If your house serves as a fourth side of a fence around a pool, install and use a door or pool alarm.
• Maintain pool and spa covers in good working order.
• Ensure any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal standards, and, if you do not know, ask your pool service provider whether your covers are in compliance.
• Have lifesaving equipment such as life rings, floats or a reaching pole available and easily accessible.

An off-duty Phoenix firefighter saved a 3-year-old boy from drowning Saturday afternoon, fire authorities said.

The firefighter, whose name was not released, found the boy floating at a resort pool near 16th Street and Belmont Avenue at about 3:30 p.m.

He quickly pulled the child from the pool. The child was lifeless and not breathing. The off-duty firefighter began CPR and after a few minutes, the child regained consciousness, said Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Capt. Jonathan Jacobs.

“The actions of this firefighter were crucial in the survival of this child,” Jacobs said.

The child was rushed to a local emergency room. He was in stable condition.

LITCHFIELD PARK, Ariz.

A 2-year-old drowned in a backyard pool after the pool fence was left propped open during a family gathering.

The toddler, who was visiting the home, was transported to the hospital in extremely critical condition, but was later pronounced dead, despite efforts by the homeowner and sheriff’s deputies to save her.

“When I came from church and saw all the sheriffs, that’s when I found out something was wrong,” said Brenda Jack-Rushing, a neighbor.

Neighbors were in disbelief as sheriff’s deputies’ cars lined up outside a Litchfield Park home, where a 2-year-old girl drowned around 1 p.m. Sunday.

“As deputies arrived on scene, the homeowner was administering CPR, at which time sheriff’s deputies took over administering CPR to the child,” said MCSO Deputy Joaquin Enriquez.

Investigators say several adults and children were at the house, near Bethany Home and Dysart, for a family gathering.

“It’s my understanding the victim, the 2-year-old, was with parents visiting at this location,” said Enriquez.

Deputies say there was a fence around the backyard pool, but they say the gate was propped open.  Family members say they lost track of the little girl for just two to five minutes.

” I do know the homeowner is the one who pulled the child out of the pool and began administering CPR on the child,” said Enriquez.

“It’s sad anytime you hear a kid that drowns,” said Jim Roberts, a neighbor.

Roberts lives nearby.

He says with four young children, he and his wife specifically looked for a home without a pool.

“We’d rather have the kids be able to go outside and play without the risk without the worry, ‘Where are the kids?'” said Roberts.

“It’s important that we watch our kids around water, especially at an age where they’re vulnerable and willing to go outside and explore, and unfortunately this one this cost us,” said Enriquez.

“Just a tragedy,” said Jack-Rushing. “My heart and my prayers go out to them.”

Neighbors say the family that lived in the home moved in just last week.

Deputies say no one else was in or around the pool at the time of the drowning.

According to the Children’s Safety Zone, four children have drowned this year in Maricopa and Pinal Counties.

In recent weeks we have had one child drowning and a near drowning of another child. Children, 4 years of age and younger, represent the largest number of drowning victims and it is a reminder for anyone responsible for children to never leave them unsupervised around water. With temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, people are starting to look to water recreation for relief.

Arizona is consistently one of the states with the highest numbers of drowning cases. You might expect that of California or Florida with many miles of beaches, but this just shows that it doesn’t take an ocean, it could just takes a few inches of water. Infants can drown in as little as one inch of water, and it can happen in “just a few seconds.”  Every year Arizona loses more than a classroom full of children to drowning. There are a few basic steps to reduce the risk of adding to these figures, we call it the ABCs of drowning prevention.

“A” is for Adult supervision. If children are around water, they need constant, responsible, undistracted, adult supervision. Designate a “Water Watcher” whose only responsibility is to watch the children. If that person has to leave the area, someone else takes over or everyone leaves the pool area with them.

“B” is for Barrier fencing. Every pool should be enclosed by a barrier fence at least 4 feet high. It should have a self closing, self latching gate. Pool toys should not be left in the pool, they attract children, and furniture should not be near the exterior fence where it can be used to crawl over.  Pool alarms are also added security.

“C” is for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), learn how to perform CPR in the event that the unthinkable does happen. In addition, although we cannot “waterproof” our children, teach them to swim (the City of Yuma’s Parks and Recreation program has many great classes). First responders often hear “It was only a few seconds” or “I thought someone else was watching”.  Do all you can do to prevent drowning (www.preventdrownings.org provides some excellent tips) and have a fun and safe summer.

For more information, or to set up a class, call Mike Erfert at 373-4850.  Follow us at www.twitter.com/YumaFireDept

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