Water Related Incident Stories Archives - Page 70 of 84

Officials: Start of school doesn’t mean end of water dangers

Sep 262011

Water-safety officials are urging residents not to let the back-to-school season distract them from watching children around water.

Many parents shift their focus from water safety to back-to-school in August, but it is still important to be vigilant supervising children and ensuring there are proper barriers between them and water, Buckeye Fire Chief Bob Costello said.

“I don’t want people to be complacent,” he said. “I know people are busy right now. It’s the first week of school in a lot of areas around here and that’s where everybody’s mind-set is, but those pools are still there and we just cannot forget about the kids around the water.”

Tanja Tanner, Goodyear Fire Department community-education coordinator, and Lori Schmidt, president of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona, echoed the sentiment.

Schmidt said children and adults likely will continue swimming in backyard pools until October, so “we need to make sure that we’re paying attention to water safety,” supervising children around water, have barriers like pool fences, secure doggie doors and locked gates in place, and “that we’re being as safe as possible.”

The push is part of Drowning Impact Awareness Month this month, which promotes continued water safety during back-to-school and emphasizes the “ripple effect” a water-related incident can have on a community.

An incident affects not only the child’s family but also neighbors, first responders and doctors, plus schools and churches the child may attend, Schmidt said. Often an incident causes people to re-evaluate and improve their own water-safety practices.

“When a drowning happens, it affects everyone,” she said. “It’s not just that family who’s going to have to live with what happened for the rest of their lives. It’s making an impact for the good or the bad for all of these other people as well.”

There have been six water-related incidents in the Southwest Valley this year, according to coalition statistics. Of those, five were children. None was fatal.

In Litchfield Park, which does not report numbers to the coalition, a 66-year-old woman drowned in her backyard pool May 24. A 58-year-old Goodyear woman, who has not been identified, was pulled from her backyard pool May 8 and taken to the hospital in critical condition. Authorities could not say Wednesday whether she survived.

The biggest issues officials have encountered this year have been adults and teenagers swimming alone or while impaired, lapses in adult supervision and no barriers to keep children away from the water.

Schmidt said adults need to take responsibility for children and themselves.

“Put barriers in place so that when we do have those lapses of supervision that we have something that can slow that child down at the very least before they can get into the water and we find them there,” she said. “And (adults need) to be paying more attention. We’ve got to understand that we’re never old enough to swim by ourselves.”

The Wigwam Resort and Spa in Litchfield Park hosted a free swim day Aug. 4 for 25 Phoenix children from the Salvation Army to teach them about water safety.

The children, whose ages ranged from 7 to 14, toured a Goodyear firetruck and were provided a free lunch. Then Schmidt read them a book, “Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim,” to teach them water-safety rules, and then they were allowed to swim.

Later, people dressed as Santa and his elves surprised the children and handed out backpacks full of school supplies, each valued at about $55. The children were “extremely excited” at the surprise visit and gifts and enjoyed the day, said Casey Hagarty, a spokeswoman for the Wigwam.

This is the second year the resort has hosted a Santa swim day for Salvation Army children.

Water-safety officials said it is important children know how to swim and be safe around water.

The Buckeye Aquatic Center focused on promoting water safety this summer by boosting swim lessons and lifeguard certifications, and offering multiple free swim days.

About 20 lifeguards were certified, 168 children swam on the town’s swim teams, and 1,009 people participated in swim lessons, up from about 480 last summer, Recreation Supervisor Miranda Gomez said.

via http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/08/12/20110812southwest-valley-officials-water-dangers.html

FD: Child drowns after waking up, going into pool at north Phoenix home

Water Related Incident Stories

Sep 262011

PHOENIX – A 5-year-old boy is dead after drowning in a north Phoenix pool early Saturday.

Scott Walker with the Phoenix Fire Department said fire crews responded to a home near 40th Street and Greenway Road around 4 a.m.

Walker said it was reported that a 5-year-old boy and his father were visiting the father’s brother.

The men had put the boy to sleep and then stayed up talking, Walker said.

They reportedly went to check on the boy around 4 a.m., but did not find him in bed and searched for him.

They found the boy in the backyard pool, pulled him from the water and called 911, Walker said.

Firefighters transported the boy to Paradise Valley Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Walker said there were no barriers around the pool.

“The homes are older out here and may have been built before those requirements were in place,” he said. “Regardless of whether it is a requirement we want you to have the barriers in place. It is your responsibility that something like this doesn’t happen.”

Tony Bohannon who lives next door said the home is owned by a firefighter who was out of town for several weeks with his family.

He said he is heartbroken. The loss hits him especially hard since he lost his 3-year-old niece to a drowning years ago.

“When you see that tiny casket and you know the guilt and suffering the family will go through,” he said. “You hear ‘watch your kids around water’ and it is not a cliche, it is real.”

Walker said that it is a tragic reminder that pool safety for kids is a multi-layered strategy. He stresses swim lessons, having pool fences, and adult supervision.

He also said that it is a sad wake-up call of the danger of pools for people visiting the Valley from areas where pools are less common.

via http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region_phoenix_metro/north_phoenix/fd%3A-child-drowns-after-waking-up%2C-going-into-pool-at-north-phoenix-home

Labor Day Prompts Water Safety Reminder; Holidays High Time For Distractions, Drownings

Water Related Incident Stories

Sep 262011

As families prepare to celebrate the last 3-day weekend of the summer, the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona stresses the importance of vigilance and layers of protection.

“Distractions and lack of barriers are the most common broken links in the injury prevention chain for drownings,” says Lori Schmidt, President of the DPCA. “This is especially true during holiday weekends. When adults are busy with guests, food preparation and entertaining, children often find themselves with easy access to the water.”

Another scenario that’s common is multiple people poolside but no one watching the water. Adults and children have drowned because everyone assumed someone would notice when there’s trouble.
“Designating someone to be guardian of the water can reduce the risk of drowning significantly in pool party settings,” says Schmidt. “Rotating that duty every 20 minutes between sober, responsible adults who know how to swim can save the lives of those in the water.”

A physical reminder such as a lanyard, wristband or hat that can be exchanged between the “lifeguards” can help. These materials can be obtained for free through the DPCA.

Year-to-date drowning numbers, as reported by the Children’s Safety Zone, indicate that Maricopa County has experienced 41 deaths, including 15 children, resulting from 136 water-related incidents this year.
“We hope to halt these numbers through the end of the year,” Schmidt says. “This can only be done by adults taking responsibility for themselves and their families, and it starts with this Labor Day weekend.”
The DPCA stresses that families should take a 3-pronged approach to drowning prevention: Block, Watch, Learn.

Block: Block access to water hazards. Put fences around pools, use protective covers on spas, close bathroom doors and dump out water buckets. Watch: Watch each other around water. Neither adults nor children should swim alone. And if you lose track of children, always check your water hazards first. Learn: Learn CPR and ensure all family members know how to swim.

# # #

The Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona, a community based organization comprised of parents, health and safety professionals and business leaders, exists to provide a forum to prevent drowning and near drowning through the promotion of education, legislative action and enhanced product safety. Check out our website at www.preventdrownings.org for more information.

via http://www.preventdrownings.org/go/PDFs/labor-day-prompts-water-safety-reminder.pdf

Water safety begins with knowing how to swim

Water Related Incident Stories

Sep 262011

As a parent, I often find myself guilty of the “do as I say, not as I do” trick. I confess to telling my kids how important it is to get a good night’s sleep, but I sometimes stay up late watching TV myself. I talk about how important it is to be prepared for a school day, but forget to plan for my own day at work. And, I tell them to try new things, but I sometimes stay with what’s comfortable.

Developing our new parent program, “Playing it Safe,” has been a challenge for me. Existing programs are easy, mostly. New ideas mean taking risks, planning for the unexpected, stretching my wings.

“What if it fails?” I ask myself. “What if no one will participate?”

We started more than a year ago with research, then developed and piloted the program, and now we’re offering it to the community. I told myself to be brave and take chances. And it’s gotten a great reception “ﾓ there are plenty of requests from the community, and after every single session I get positive feedback and a good feeling that I’m making a difference.

One of the most surprising things I’ve learned from talking to parents is just how many adults do not know how to swim.

This is not something people admit when they first speak to a stranger, and maybe that’s why I haven’t heard it spoken of, until now. When we talk about drowning prevention in small groups, we share our stories and solutions, and begin to get to know each other, and that’s when a parent feels comfortable enough to mention it. I’d estimate that one or two out of every 10 parents I speak with can’t swim.

A tragic case in Glendale recently illustrates how important it is for adults to talk about this subject. Last month, a 37-year-old mother jumped into her pool because she thought her 5-year-old son needed to be rescued. She could not swim, and by the time she was rescued, her injuries were so severe that she ultimately died.

We always include supervision when we talk about drowning prevention. But I’m urging parents to take a hard look at who can be their “Water Watcher.” Children need constant, capable supervision when they are near the water. “Capable” means old enough to supervise, sober, aware of who is in charge, able to give CPR and able to swim.

My grandmother did not know how to swim, and never learned. She missed out on the simple pleasure of kicking across the pool on a hot summer day, and was not as safe around the pool as she could have been.

It’s awfully hot out there right now, folks. Don’t stay up too late watching TV on these sweltering summer nights and prepare ahead of time for your work day. Also, try something new, and if you don’t know how to swim, I think you know exactly where to start.

Tiffaney Isaacson is the water safety coordinator for Water Watchers at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Reach her at (602) 546-1712.

via http://www.ahwatukee.com/community_focus/article_81656226-a40a-11e0-b672-001cc4c002e0.html

Watch your kids around water

Water Related Incident Stories

Sep 262011

There have been 34 more drowning incidents in 2011 in the Phoenix metropolitan area totaling 129 compared to 95 reported at this time last year, according to Valley of the Sun fire department officials.

As temperatures continue to climb in the triple-digits, East Valley residents “ﾔ both young and old “ﾔ will continue to be fixtures at public and neighborhood watering holes.

With swimming pools becoming popular attractions so rises opportunities for dangers of drowning, East Valley fire department and district officials contend.

According to the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona, there have been 129 water-related incidents including drowning and near-drowning instances in Maricopa County with 39 deaths including 15 children.

The Apache Junction Fire District has reported one incident resulting in the death of a child less than 5 years old. The Queen Creek Fire Department has not reported any water-related incidents in 2011 as of Aug. 17, according to department officials.

There have been two water-related incidents reported in Pinal County including Apache Junction. Both incidents resulted in the death of two children, according to the drowning coalition.

Ed Swift, Children’s Safety Zone founder, says the spike in incidents from last year to this year reported by Valley fire departments is alarming and shows the same trend: “People believe it just won’t happen to them,” he says.
The Children’s Safety Zone “ﾔ available at childrenssafetyzone.com “ﾔ compiles, among other things, reported drowning incidents where both near-drowning and drowning incidents are reported by Arizona public safety entities that voluntarily opt to provide the information in an effort to gather data on the summertime epidemic, Mr. Swift says.

“They are up. We keep the up-to-date statistics on the website, but, boy, they are coming in really fast,” he said in an Aug. 17 phone interview of incidents reported in Arizona. “We have had eight of them in the last three days.”

The increase of more than 30 incidents on an annual basis is a disturbing trend that can be stopped, Mr. Swift says.

“It is significantly up and this is just Maricopa County,” he said noting that data from outside Maricopa County is gathered when made available. “This is the first time I have had some information from outside the region … so, numbers are up everywhere.”

Since 1998, Mr. Swift has been gathering data and ever since that time, the same excuses for not taking a proactive approach to prevent both child and adult drowning incidents has revolved around the same mantra.
“Frustratingly, they literally say the same things,” he pointed out of what he has heard in years’ past. “”ﾘThis just won’t happen to me’ … that is what everybody thinks.”

In the news
One of the most recent and publicized drowning incidents illustrating Mr. Swift’s point is the Aug. 10 drowning of an 8-month-old baby under the care of an adult in the 10000 block of East Praire Hawk Lane in rural San Tan Valley, he says.

On Aug. 10, Pinal County Sheriff’s Office dispatch received a 9-1-1 call from a caller who reported that her neighbor had rushed over with an 8-month-old baby who was not breathing and blue in color, according to Elias Johnson, PCSO spokesman.

The mother “ﾔ Patricia Schettler “ﾔ claimed at initial police interviews she had only turned away for a second to grab a towel and her daughter was immediately submerged in her infant bathtub, Mr. Johnson says.
The baby was pronounced dead 24 hours later and now the mother’s story of what happened has changed, according to Mr. Johnson.

“Here’s the thing, the official stance was she was involved in a traumatic event,” Mr. Johnson said in an Aug. 17 phone interview. “We even interview our detectives after they are in a deadly force situation and it is hard to get a clear definition of what happened.”

Ms. Schetter’s story has changed from pulling away for a second to pulling the drain, leaving the room and attempting to repair her non-functioning cell phone, Mr. Johnson says of statements made to PCSO investigators.
“She admits to pulling the draining plug, leaving the room and messing with her cell phone,” he noted. “Are we saying that she gave us false information? No. She is giving new information for what she thinks happened. We are not taking a stance on how long the child was in the water.”

Mr. Johnson says he is anticipating to receive autopsy results no later than Aug. 24.

“That will be the last piece of the puzzle,” he said of the pending autopsy results. “The county attorney will have the last say in the matter of charging.”

The ABCs of drowning prevention “ﾔ a common mantra taught among East Valley fire and ambulance entities “ﾔ hinges on adult supervision, barriers and CPR classes, public safety officials say.

Barriers created and the attending of CPR classes are good ways to be proactive, but the most effective manner to prevent child drowning remains adult supervision, they say.

Not always reported
When it comes to avoiding child drowning, adult supervision trumps all other efforts, East Valley public safety officials agree.

But something not always reported is who the other most susceptible demographic of people is, according to Tina Gerola, Apache Junction Fire District fire and life safety specialist.

“Those over the age of 65 drown more than 5 year olds who are both at-risk across the board,” she pointed out in an Aug. 17 phone interview. “We (adults) don’t make the news, but a child does.”

Intoxication of varying levels and types almost always play a role in an adult-drowning case, Ms. Gerola explains.
“Usually when an adult drowns there is usually alcohol involved or medication has been taken,” she pointed out. “Most commonly is they are intoxicated and impaired by medication.”

Sidebars:

The ABCs of water safety

A is for adult supervision, which is critical to preventing drownings. Children who have access to water should have eye-to-eye contact with adults, and adults should never leave children alone around water.
B is for barriers, which include fences and door locks restricting children’s access to water, acting as a second line of defense.
C is for classes that adults should take to learn current CPR training. Children should also have swimming lessons at the appropriate age.

Source: Water Safety Day pamphlet

Safety tips

Never leave a child unsupervised in the tub
Bath seats are not safety devices. They do not make children safer in the tub.
Before filling the tub, make sure you have everything you might need during bathtime including towels, shampoo, telephone and clothing.

Source: Water Safety Day pamphlet

Drowning facts

Child drownings are swift and silent. In as little as two minutes, a child will lost consciousness in the water. Neurological injury occurs within four to six minutes.
In Maricopa County alone, an average of four bathtub drowning incidents occur per year, with an average of one per year being fatal.
More than half of drownings among infants (under the age of 1) occur in bathtubs; the majority occur in the absence of adult supervision.
Females have a bathtub drowning rate twice that of males.
In at least 29 of the 292 bathtub drowning deaths reported to CPSC between 1996 and 1999, the victims were using bath seats.
Children can drown in an inch or two of water.

Source: Water Safety Day pamphlet

Want to know more?
For more information on water safety facts and drowning prevention efforts, events and techniques go to the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona’s website at http://www.preventdrownings.org.

via http://az.newszapforums.com/view_topic.php?id=113901&forum_id=15

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