pool-safety.jpgKids like to cool off during hot Phoenix summers by jumping in the many available swimming pools. However, any water - even a bucket of water - can be dangerous to unsupervised children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission completed a study that showed every year there are nearly 300 reported drownings of children under the age of 5 and about 3000 emergency room-treated submersion injuries for children under the age of 5.  Please keep a close eye on children around water.

Read more at: http://www.azfamily.com/news/health/Pool-safety-92522114.html

There have already been 20 drowning-related incidents in Phoenix this year, including a 17 month old boy who was pulled from his family's pool in the early morning on June 2, 2010 and is currently in critical condition. 

Read more at: http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/Toddler-critical-after-falling-in-backyard-pool-95421339.html

More information is also available at: http://www.poolsafety.gov/

Pool Safety Tips
by Jennifer Thomas

PHOENIX -- Drowning deaths are preventable. Constant supervision and layers of protection can save lives. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has put together facts and tips to keep children safe around water.

Important facts:

  • The majority of deaths and injuries occur in residential settings and involve children ages 1 to 2.
  • Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death to children ages 1 to 4.
  • Drowning occurs more commonly when children get access to the pool during a short lapse in adult supervision.
  • Drowning occurs quickly and silently.

Safety information:

When children are in or around pools and spas, never take your eyes off them.
Pool owners should install several layers of protection, such as:

  • a fence completely surrounding the pool;
  • a self-closing, self-latching gate to prevent children from accessing the pool;
  • a door alarm if the house forms the fourth side of the barrier leading to the pool area;
  • a power safety cover over the pool.

Since every second counts, always look for a missing child in the pool first. Precious time is often wasted looking for missing children anywhere but in the pool.

Don't leave toys and floats in the pool that can attract young children and cause them to fall in the water when they reach for the items.

For above-ground and inflatable pools with ladders, remove or secure the ladder when the pool is not in use.

It is important to always be prepared for an emergency by having rescue equipment and a phone near the pool. Parents should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

For more information about pool safety and drowning prevention, visit www.poolsafety.gov.