Children's Safety Zone

Firefighters Remind Parents About Water Safety: MyFoxPHOENIX.com

PHOENIX – On Thursday, we told you about the tragic story of a 4-year-old boy who drowned in the family pool after his mother lost track of him for up to 15 minutes.

On Friday, firefighters were back in the neighborhood hoping to prevent another tragedy.

Some of the crews that tried to save the little boy’s life went to the homes of people who have pools and reminded them how important it is to watch their children around water.

The crew of Phoenix Fire Station 33 left the fire engine behind and hit the streets in the north Phoenix neighborhood where a 4-year-old boy drowned in the family’s swimming pool on Thursday.

“Today’s goal is to get out in the immediate area since everyone has a heightened awareness as to what’s going on and get the information out,” said Capt. Scott McDonald.

Armed with a map showing homes with swimming pools, the firefighters walked up and down the quiet neighborhood, handing out brochures to remind people about water safety tips.

“There’s a lot of things here in the brochure..stuff that you probably wouldn’t even know that could cause some problems, okay,” said a firefighter.

Some neighbors who heard about Thursday’s drowning are clearly frustrated.

“You watch ’em all the time around water, you never walk away from ’em. If you do, it’s your fault, it’s not an accident,” said a resident.

“Frustrating is not even the word that most firemen can use. It’s so much more than that. It’s really hard on the crews that go on these calls,” said McDonald. “We can only keep getting the message out there..we can only try to make pools safer and we can only keep telling parents you’ve gotta watch ’em every second, that’s really all there is to it.”

So far in 2011, nine people have died from drowning in Phoenix and five of the victims were children.

Sunrise Family Center
21321 N. 86th Drive Peoria, AZ, 85382

PHONE: 623-773-7137
January 8, 2011
Saturday, 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM

ON THE WEB: www.peoriaaz.gov

PRICE: Free

The community is invited to take a brisk morning swim and help promote water safety. High school swim teams compete in relay races to kick things off at 8 a.m. The Big Plunge into the unheated pool, where temperatures are expected to be in the low 50s, follows at about 8:30 a.m. Those able to swim the 25 feet across the pool receive a T-shirt marking their accomplishment. The Lil’ Plunge, where youngsters can swim or wade in the pool. follows at about 8:45 a.m. Peoria Firefighters Charities cook up a warm breakfast for participants. Safety groups offer information, and inflatables and a water-safety obstacle course are set up. Call or e-mail aquatics@peoriaaz.gov for details.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Peoria Unified School District Governing Board voted Monday to fire an Ironwood High School teacher after a student drowned during a gym class under the teacher’s watch in May.

The board by a 4-1 vote rejected the recommendation of a board-appointed hearing officer regarding teacher Timothy McKee. The officer had said the Peoria Unified School District lacked the evidence to prove McKee acted unprofessionally or violated school board policies.

McKee will be taken off paid administrative leave and fired, according to the board.

McKee was one of two teachers in charge of 50 Ironwood High School students in the swimming pool during the class.

Jesus “Jesse” Prado, 16, died May 14, two days after he was pulled him from the school pool by a classmate.

Neither teacher noticed Prado slip under the water.

McKee’s attorney maintained the district could have improved the safety of the student by providing lifeguards on duty instead of teachers, who were not certified as lifeguards.

“We continue to grieve and send our deepest condolences to the Prado family for their tragic loss,” the school district said in a statement.

McKee questioned how the board reached its decision.

“They were not at the hearings,” McKee said. “They did not hear all the evidence, so to do what they did, that’s kind of appalling.”

“I know what happened,” McKee said. “The hearing officer listened to both sides of the story. He had all the evidence. He knows what happened. He made his recommendation.”

Board President Kathy Knecht cast the only vote to retain McKee. “I did not feel that the burden of proof was met,” she said.

Board member Diane Douglas voted for McKee’s termination.

“Would I entrust Mr. McKee in the future with my own child? I’ve come to the conclusion that I would not,” she said.

AVONDALE, AZ – A 3-year-old girl has been rushed to the hospital after nearly drowning in the hot tub at an Avondale apartment complex.

Crews responded to the complex near 120th Avenue and Van Buren Street around 5:30 p.m.

Avondale fire officials tell ABC15 the girl was playing with another child in the apartment’s hot tub area when she went under the water.

Her father reportedly pulled her from the hot tub and she was conscious and breathing when crews arrived.

Officials say it is unclear at this time how long the 3-year-old was submerged.

The girl was airlifted to Banner Thunderbird Samaritan Medical Center in stable condition, according to Avondale fire officials.

GLENDALE, AZ – A Glendale mother died Sunday after saving her son from a pool last week.

When wife and mother, Bibi Zachriah was pulled out of her pool last week after trying to rescue her son, family members said she had no chance of survival. Unfortunately they were right.

Family said her husband had an extremely difficult time accepting that his wife was not going to come around.

On Sunday, he worked up the courage to take her off of life support and say goodbye.

“He loved her so much. They were the best couple I had ever seen,” said family member Ninan Geevarughese. “They were inseparable, until today.”

Geevarughese said Zachriah died surrounded by those who loved and cared about her.

“Leaving their family at home they came and spent so much time in the hospital, day and night,” he said.

Zachriah had been on life support for a week after she was found unconscious in her pool.

Emergency responders who showed up to the 911 call at Zachriah’s Glendale home said she jumped in to her pool to try and save her son who was struggling to swim. She saved her son, but could not save herself.

Geevarughese said it was love that made Zachriah move her family from India to Arizona. She wanted to give her son a better life.

“She was very smart, sweet and loving, caring. We miss her a lot,” he said.

Dozens and dozens of members from the family’s church are now by their side for support.

“All church members are here to help and comfort the family,” Indian Orthodox Church’s Father Slomo said.