Water Related Incident Stories Archives - Page 66 of 87

Drownings up in Phoenix in 2011

May 022012

The warning has been around since children started dying in pools: Watch your kids around water.

A new program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital called Playing It Safe aims to teach parents what exactly it means to watch kids around water.

“We’re looking at best practices to prevent drowning,” said Tiffaney Isaacson, the hospital’s water-safety coordinator. “The bulk of our incidents are happening with a toddler in their own home with a mother, father or both being home.”

The total number of water-related incidents, including drownings of children and adults, increased in Phoenix to 86 in 2011 from 71 in 2010, according to the Phoenix Fire Department.

Phoenix’s increase is similar to the rise that Maricopa County saw in water-related incidents.

In 2011, there were 179 people, including adults and children, transported to a hospital because of a water-related incident, compared with 140 in 2010, according to Children’s Safety Zone, an organization that tracks drowning statistics in Arizona.

As for deaths, the tally went up slightly in Maricopa County: 49 drownings in 2011, up from from 48 the previous year.

Playing It Safe is designed to meet the needs of busy parents and reached 120 families in its first year.

The program is customized to a short lesson, sometimes lasting only 15 minutes. Isaacson will tailor the lesson based on the audience; it could be a brown-bag lunch at a company or an individual one-on-one session.

“I’m a parent,” Isaacson said. “It’s difficult to find time in your day that is free. What we do is a flexible presentation, a custom plan just for them.”

Sometimes it takes an honest conversation about the parents’ fears and embarrassments.

“A lot of parents don’t know how to swim. That’s troubling if you are home alone with your child and you’re the water watcher,” Isaacson said. “We had an adult fatality where the mother was swimming alone with her child. She jumped in because she thought the child was in trouble and she drowned.”

The program also looks past traditional messages like putting a barrier between the children and water. In most homes, that preference is a pool fence.

During a recent talk at a swim school, a mom and a dad said they felt their pool fence was secure. “But they have patio furniture on the outside of the fence, which the children can climb,” Isaacson said.

She works with Ed Swift of Children’s Safety Zone to share information.

“Kids are too quick. They can get out of your sight in an instance,” Swift said. “A barrier simply gives a parent more time to find the children before they get in trouble. Locked doors, fences and, ultimately, swimming lessons give children a fighting chance. A layered approach is better than one approach.”

Parents have heard the basic message, but the program goes more in-depth. “We talk about who that water watcher should be. It should not be someone who’s had two glasses of wine. If I don’t know how to swim, I should not be a water watcher.”

Isaacson suspects a rough economy might have something to do with the increase of water incidents in 2011. Isaacson saw increases in incidents where a grandparent was watching the child.

“Another thing that happens in a tight economy is you see more families living in apartments,” she said. “A lot of people use the community pool. It’s hard to find your kid among lots of other kids. And it’s difficult to reinforce the idea to keep the pool gate closed to adults without children.”

via http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2012/01/05/20120105phoenix-2011-drownings-increase.html

Surprise mom who lost son advocates for pool safety

Water Related Incident Stories

May 022012

Months after her 4-year-old son’s drowning last July, Brooke Thomas has reviewed every possible detail from the afternoon of July 22.

It had been a happy day, her oldest son’s seventh birthday, spent playing in a neighbor’s pool for nearly three hours. When it came time to leave, Brooke turned to put away her children’s floaties and other things. When she looked back, her younger son, Charles “Maverick,” was nowhere to be seen.

In the frantic moments that she and others searched the house and pool for Maverick, they had somehow missed seeing him at the bottom of the pool, obstructed by shadows from nearby palm trees. A waterfall feature was another distraction. The bottom of the pool was covered with tiles, which had turned the water from clear to something of a deep-colored lagoon by afternoon.

Furthermore, Maverick’s swim trunks — navy blue with a Hawaiian pattern — had helped camouflage him underwater. By the time someone spotted him from the other side of the pool, it was too late.

Since the drowning, Thomas has returned to the pool to take pictures of the water as it shifted colors later in the afternoon. What if Maverick, who had taken some recreational swim classes, had been taught to float on his back or tread water? The incident was nothing like she had seen of fictional drownings on television: Maverick had not flailed or screamed. They believe he must have been reaching for a toy, then silently slipped beneath the water’s surface.

Although Maverick died in the summer, the Thomas family wants to deliver a message: A child can drown any time of the year.

“Any measure we could have taken, we took. And yet it still happened,” Thomas said. “If it can happen to us, it can happen to anybody.”
A year-round hazard

A high risk of drowning exists year-round in Arizona, said Lori Schmidt, president of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona. But there tend to be different reasons between summer and winter.

“In the summer months, it tends to be a supervision issue,” Schmidt said. Often, parents or other adults are distracted and children are left near the water without “eye-to-eye supervision.”

In the winter months, drownings tend to be the result of barrier issues. The pool may not be protected by a fence or a cover, or existing ones are in disrepair. Children, ever drawn to small spaces, have been known to crawl through doggy doors.

“We’re not really expecting kids in the water,” Schmidt said. “We had no inkling that the child would even be near the water.”

The winter months also are when visitors flock to Arizona, descending upon homes that may not be properly equipped for young children. What Valley residents consider to be sweater weather could be a perfect poolside day for guests.

“People come visiting and think, ‘Oh, it’s so beautiful here.’ They don’t have any problems running around in flip-flops and sundresses,” Schmidt said. “Especially kids. Kids don’t really care if it’s cold or not. They’re getting in the water.”

Pools are not the only source of danger, she added. Hot tubs, canals, bathtubs and just about anything that can hold rainwater around the house should be monitored, fenced or emptied.

“Anything that holds an inch of water can be a water hazard,” she said.
Numbers, prevention

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, drownings are the leading cause of injury and death for children ages 1 to 4.

Last year, Maricopa County had 49 drownings. Of those deaths, 16 were of children, and the majority occurred by May.

“We had a horrible spring,” Schmidt said. “We were on pace to double, if not triple, our drowning deaths (in Maricopa County).”

In 2010, there were 48 drownings in Maricopa County; 20 of those were children. Although child drownings decreased, the total number of “water-related incidents,” including near drownings, increased last year to 179 from 140.

“We can prevent drowning,” Schmidt said. “You’ve got to protect your families no matter what time of year.”

Thomas said her devoutly religious family can move on by using their experience to help prevent other families from suffering the same grief. They founded the Maverick Movement, a group that aims to raise awareness about water safety.

“It would be really easy for me to be done with the pool, to be an overbearing mom,” Thomas said.

On the contrary, the rest of her family, including her two other children, returned to the pool within days.

“That was important to us, because we wanted them to see that you can have fun in the water, that it’s good for you and good exercise,” she said. “We wanted them to remember the fun memories of that day.”

The memories include the way Maverick would jump into her arms in the pool and snuggle up to her face until their noses were touching.

“I love you, Mommy,” he would say.

Without missing a beat, she would respond: “I love you, too, Maverick.”

via http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/12/28/20111228surprise-mom-child-drownings-pool-safety-advocate.html

2-year-old recovers quickly after near-drowning in pool

Water Related Incident Stories

May 022012

Caleb Teodorescu slept in his hospital room, surrounded by no fewer than a dozen teddy bears, balloons and a toy truck taller than his 2-year-old self.

“He looks remarkable considering what happened to him,” said Dr. Budi Wiryawan, a pediatric intensivist at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale.

On Nov. 25, Caleb had been rushed to the hospital in critical condition, not breathing and without a discernible pulse. He had been considered dead for about half an hour, after apparently riding his scooter into the family pool.

Little more than a week later, doctors feel confident Caleb will be able to return home soon, after making an astounding recovery. “It’s really a miracle,” Wiryawan said.

The day after Thanksgiving, Mihaela Teodorescu, 32, had gone to the bathroom while her four children played in the kitchen. She remembered listening to their chatter and noticing the sounds of her youngest had disappeared.

Returning, she asked her kids, “Where’s Caleb?” Her 6-year-old son reached the back door first. Mom, I think I see something in the pool.

Caleb was eight feet underwater, face down. Her oldest daughter dialed 911 as Mihaela dove in after Caleb.

A neighbor administered CPR, but it wasn’t until Caleb arrived at the hospital 28 minutes later that doctors restored his breathing and heartbeat.

Despite the turnaround, Mihaela could sense that the doctors were being cautious. Recovery from this type of trauma, if at all, could take 6 to 12 months, they told her. He could remain sedated for up to a month.

Over the next several days, gifts and prayers poured in for the Teodorescus from their friends, their church, even their native Romania. Caleb responded positively to diagnostic tests the doctors gave him. To their surprise, his heart, lungs and brain seemed to be doing fine.

He was taken off of his ventilator and began to breathe on his own.

Exactly one week after the accident, Caleb looked up at his father, grabbed his face, and spoke again for the first time since the incident.

“Nose,” he said.

On Saturday, doctors pulled Caleb off of intravenous nutrition. He walked again and even rode a small tricycle through the hospital halls. He spent the rest of the day napping and squirming in his mother’s arms, babbling and smiling as she held him.

Doctors are confident that, by Monday, Caleb will be able to go home, where the Teodorescus are installing a pool cover.

via http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2011/12/03/20111203infant-recovers-drowning-pool.html

TV shows helped Valley kids save drowning cousin

Water Related Incident Stories

Apr 052012

Who says there’s nothing good on TV anymore? A young brother and sister used what they learned on TV to save the life of their 2-year-old cousin.

At their Phoenix home Tuesday, 11-year-old Keanu Moreno and his 9-year-old sister, Demi found their little cousin at the bottom of their pool in the backyard. The toddler was drowning.

“I dived in and I got him and I put him right on my shoulder,” Keanu said. “Then I swam to the top and put him on the floor.”

Keanu and Dime’s cousin, 2-year-old Alessandro had snuck outside an open door when no one was looking.

Laying unconscious on the ground near the pool, Alessandro’s skin had turned purple. He was not breathing and Dime said his eyes were wide-open.

“I was really scared,” Keanu said. “I thought he was dead. I really did, but I wanted him to be alive.”

“I was saying, God please help him. Please don’t let him die,” Demi recalled.

Thinking back to what they had watched on the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet, Demi and Keanu jumped into action. Demi dialed 911 while big brother Keanu started CPR.

“I blew into his mouth, and then I went like this really, really hard,” Keanu said demonstrating how he performed the chest compressions on Alessandro. “He started throwing up all of that stuff.”

Keanu said he only had to do CPR for “about 10 seconds,” but because of how scared he was, “it felt like 20 minutes.”

An ambulance soon arrived and took Alessandro to the hospital where paramedics say he is doing just fine.

The children were being supervised by older teenage relatives at the time.

Ironically, Tuesday was the start of “Water Safety Day” in the Valley.

Captain Scott McDonald of the Phoenix Fire Department said the close call at the Moreno’s house was a fitting kick-off, and a reminder of the importance of keeping watch over children when there is a pool nearby.

“We have an incredible outcome to what could have been a very devastating, tragic event,” Capt. McDonald said. “Keanu and Demi did a great job.”

via http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/central_phoenix/tv-helps-kids-save-their-drowning-cousin-while-no-adults-were-home

Fire captain’s close call: Own grandson nearly drowns

Water Related Incident Stories

Apr 052012

Unfortunately, this time of year firefighters respond to far too many drowning calls, but one hit too close to home for a Valley fire captain.

Five years ago this weekend, one of those calls was for Glendale Fire Capt. Tony Silva’s grandson, Christopher Silva, when the then 4-year-old was found at the bottom of a backyard pool.

This story could have had a much different ending, but Tony Silva and his grandson sat down with CBS 5’s Jadiann Thompson Sunday to talk about that day.

“Math,” said 9-year-old Christopher. “Writing,” he continued while describing his favorite subjects in school to the news crew. Christopher said he likes art too and has big dreams for his future.

“Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?” we asked.

“A dad,” he said.

Tony Silva says he has worked for the Glendale Fire Department for 22 years and told us that five years ago at a family pool party Christopher slipped away, and before the family even knew it, he was found at the bottom of the pool.

“I heard a lady scream, came running back to the back. Somebody had pulled him out. He had been underwater. What we think happened was he had a robe on, he went down the slide and the robe just took him down like an anchor,” said Tony Silva. “It has changed my life. It has changed my whole family. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anybody.”

He told us he performed CPR while the ambulance was on its way. “It felt like a lifetime,” Tony Silva said. Christopher spent three months at St. Joseph’s Hospital, nearly in a coma.

“They told us that he would never walk, talk or see again,” said Tony Silva.

But now this walking miracle child is 9 years old, in school and is defying the odds one day at a time.

“It’s just great to have him here with us,” said the fire captain.

All Tony Silva wants to say is to watch your kids around water.

For a quick look at some water safety tips, click on the Web exclusive video with the Glendale Fire Department titled “Water Safety Tips.”

via http://www.kpho.com/story/17927499/fire-captains-close-call-own-grandson-nearly-drowns

Long an issue in Arizona, canal safety back in forefront after recent drownings

Water Related Incident Stories

Apr 052012

When it comes to child drownings, most people think of a swimming pool or a bath.

But in Arizona, there is an additional danger: canals.

Earlier this month, Cisco Mesquita, 2, wandered out of his Guadalupe home, under a fence and into a canal. The young boy drowned in two feet of water.

In January, brothers Anthony, 10, and Calib Love, 6, drowned in a canal outside of Maricopa. Six-year-old Gilbert resident Brenan Thomson died April 9, 2011, when he and his brother went into a canal near their home after a bike ride.

Two weeks ago, drowning prevention experts and public safety officials gathered near the location of that tragedy to talk about the safety issues of canals and raise awareness.

“Parents need to talk about the dangers of the canals,” said Mike Connor, the Gilbert Fire Department spokesman who was at the scene in 2011 when public safety officials were called about two boys missing in Gilbert.

“We’d had a torrential downpour, the day of and day prior. The canal was at a high level and moving fast,” Connor recalled. “We don’t know exactly what happened. We know both boys ended up in the canal. Not sure if one went in and the other went in to help. We just don’t know what happened. The fire department was called. By the time we got there, a bystander was there trying to pull them out, 60 to 80 yards down from where they went in.”

Arizona has an intricate system of canals to get water to the desert. And while there are nice pathways for walking and biking around many of the canals, there are few “ﾔ if any “ﾔ barriers to keep people out of the water.

Arizona natives who grew up with the message, “Stay out of the canals,” may be able to transfer that to their own children. But the thousands of people who move to the Valley every year may be completely unaware, Connor said.

“I am a transplant here. I didn’t know anything about the canals. Our communities are not brought-up-and-raised Arizonans who have that. We have people from all over,” he said.

During the public event last week, residents told Connor they didn’t even know there was canal access in the San Tan Ranch neighborhood until Brenan’s death.

PHOTO: In this April 18, 2012 photo, Gilbert fire captain Mike Connor speaks during a press conference near the site where Brenan Thomson drowned in Gilbert, Ariz. Arizona has an intricate system of canals to get water to the desert. And while there are nice pathways for walking and biking around many of the canals, there are few _ if any _ barriers to keep people out of the water. (AP Photo/East Valley Tribune, Tim HAcker) ARIZONA REPUBLIC OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT
In this April 18, 2012 photo, Gilbert fire captain Mike Connor speaks during a press conference near the site where Brenan Thomson drowned in Gilbert, Ariz. Arizona has an intricate system of canals to get water to the desert. And while there are nice pathways for walking and biking around many of the canals, there are few _ if any _ barriers to keep people out of the water. (AP Photo/East Valley Tribune, Tim HAcker) ARIZONA REPUBLIC OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Samantha Ostby, who lives in the same neighborhood as the Thomson’s, has made it her personal mission to get word out about canal safety.

She wants drowning prevention officials in the Valley to make sure and mention “canals” when talking about the other water hazards, like pools and bathtubs.

Ostby is working with the Lori Schmidt, Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona president and a public education officer for Scottsdale Fire Department, to help get the word out.

“We are partnering with media. We are also working with SRP to develop educational materials. We also want to reach out to all of the agencies who own canals to standardize signage and encourage safety measures,” Schmidt said.

SRP has 130 miles of canals in the Valley.

Ostby praised Schmidt’s work and SRP’s safety information on its website, adding that it’s time the public takes notice.

“We become complacent when it comes to water safety. We’ve been too naive,” she said, speaking about the issue of canals. “You can’t do better until you know better. I’m trying to get families to know better.”

Parents need not only ask themselves, “Do I have a fence around my pool?” but, “Do I live by a canal?”

“I live next door to a sidewalk that leads to a canal. For almost 10 years it never donned on me,” that it was a safety issue, she said.

Ostby’s own children are now 10 and 12, sparking another reason for her to get involved.

“I didn’t want anyone else like me to not think about something like that and have another tragedy hit another family,” she said.

via http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/5ff8792deec4484395427d6815fc72c7/AZ–Drowning-Awareness/

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