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3 people nearly drown same weekend as water safety fair

 Water Related Incident Stories
Nov 152013
 

Three people nearly drowned the same weekend a water safety fair was scheduled at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds.

Rose Bennett knows how devastating the incidents can be. She helped organize the fair because her son, Ethan, nearly drowned 4 years ago.

“It really breaks my heart,” Bennett said, “because it is 100 percent preventable. Water is fun. It’s not the enemy. You just have to be safe around water.”

Ethan Bennett was 6 years old when he was found at the bottom of a pool on June 2, 2009.

Now, Ethan is in a wheelchair and uses sign language to communicate.

“Getting married and having kids. A lot of that stuff died that day with him,” Rose Bennett said. “It’s just what it is. So he just has a completely different life now.”

She helped organize the safety fair and mud drag racing event to share her story with a bigger audience.

“That one second can change your whole life,” Bennett said. “And it’s just not worth it.”

via http://www.kvoa.com/news/3-people-nearly-drown-same-weekend-as-water-safety-fair/

Tucson fire responds to near drowning overnight

 Water Related Incident Stories
Nov 152013
 

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.

via http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/23247284/tucson-fire-responds-to-near-drowning-overnight

7-year-old in critical condition after near-drowning in Phoenix

 Water Related Incident Stories
Nov 152013
 

A 7-year-old child was pulled from a pool Tuesday afternoon and transported to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in critical condition.

Phoenix fire said the child entered the shallow end of the pool without his “water wings” at a family friend’s house near 56th Street and Bell Road in Phoenix. There were about 5-7 kids in the pool, but no one immediately noticed the child was in the pool.

Three adults were also on site.

The child was eventually pulled from the bottom of the pool and 9-1-1 was called. Police arrived on scene and began performing CPR. Phoenix Fire arrived next and transported the child in critical condition to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Air15 video showed fire officials standing near the pool and coolers along the pools edge.

No other information was released.

via http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/fd-7-year-old-in-critical-condition-after-near-drowning-in-phoenix

SWIMkids USA offering free swim lessons and water safety bags

 Water Related Incident Stories
Nov 152013
 

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

via http://www.abc15.com/dpp/money/consumer/smart_shopper/SWIMkids-USA-offering-free-swim-lessons-and-water-safety-bags

2-year-old pulled from Chandler pool dies

 Water Related Incident Stories
Nov 152013
 

Authorities say a 2-year-old has died after she was found in a Chandler backyard pool Wednesday afternoon.

According to Chandler police, first responders found adults performing CPR on the young girl at a home near Frye and Alma School roads. There were reportedly two adult relatives inside the home at the time.

Chandler fire personnel immediately took over attempts at life-saving measures.

Chandler fire Batt. Chief Tom Dwiggins said the girl died at the hospital.

Police say an investigation is under way.

Dwiggins said there was no fence around the pool and the girl somehow slipped out of the house.

via http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_southeast_valley/chandler/chandler-police-2-year-old-in-extremely-critical-condition-after-being-pulled-from-backyard-pool

Ex-Cubs pitcher drowns at Bartlett Lake

 Water Related Incident Stories
Nov 152013
 

An ex-pitcher for the Chicago Cubs drowned at Bartlett Lake northeast of Phoenix Sunday, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said.

The body of Frank Castillo, 44, was pulled from the water at 2:26 p.m. Monday after a jet skier saw it floating.

Castillo played for the Chicago Cubs from 1991 to 1997, the Colorado Rockies, the Detroit Tigers, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Boston Red Sox and the Florida Marlins.

The Red Sox held a moment of silence for Castillo before Monday night’s game against Tampa Bay.

Sheriff’s deputies said Castillo and one of his friends had rented a pontoon boat just before 2:30 p.m. Sunday and had been on the lake for only about an hour when the ex-ballplayer got into the water to go swimming.

A short time later the friend noticed the victim had not resurfaced and called 911.

MCSO’s dive team searched for about two hours, but due to limited visibility and lighting conditions, scrubbed the operation until daylight.  

The dive team re-entered the water at about 8 a.m. Monday in what they classified as a recovery operation. Castillo’s body was discovered some 6 1/2 hours later.

The sheriff’s office said water in the area was about 25 feet deep and divers only had three-foot visibility.

Bartlett Lake is about 17 miles northeast of Carefree.

via http://www.kpho.com/story/22952173/mcso-divers-searching-for-drowning-victim-at-bartlett-lake

FD: Boy found at bottom of Glendale swimming pool

 Water Related Incident Stories
Nov 122013
 

GLENDALE, AZ – Fire officials say a 3-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was found at the bottom of a Glendale swimming pool.Glendale fire spokesman Danny Cenese said the 3-year-old boy made his way into the backyard near 75th Avenue and Union Hills Drive around 3 p.m. Tuesday.He was alone at the time and somehow made it over a small fence, Cenese said.

via FD: Boy found at bottom of Glendale swimming pool.

Infant left in bathtub drowns in Oro Valley

 Water Related Incident Stories
Nov 022013
 

A baby boy drowned in a bathtub at a home on the northwest side Saturday evening.

Oro Valley police officers the first to arrive, just after 5 p.m., at a home in the 9000 block of North Oracle Road between West Hardy Road and West Calle Concordia, and began performing CPR after the 12-month-old was found unresponsive in a bathtub, said Capt. Josh Hurguy, spokesman for the Golder Ranch Fire Department.

via Infant left in bathtub drowns in Oro Valley.

4-year-old girl nearly drowns in Oro Valley

 Water Related Incident Stories
Aug 242013
 

A 4-year-old girl nearly drowned in Oro Valley Saturday.

Battalion Chief Josh Hurguy with Golder Ranch Fire District says it happened at a home in the 11000 block of Gray Eagle, near Tangerine and La Canada.

Hurguy says a 4-year-old was in the care of her mother.

She was in the pool with a floatation device when she tipped over underwater and was unable to right herself.

A 12-year-old relative, who just completed CPR training, saw what happened and quickly turned the girl right side up and got her out of the water.

The little girl never lost consciousness or stopped breathing.

Golder Ranch Fire Paramedics transported her to UAMC for further evaluation.

via http://www.kvoa.com/news/4-year-old-girl-nearly-drowns-in-oro-valley/
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