PHOENIX — The Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona is hoping to see fewer child drownings this year compared to the 18 deaths in 2024.
“We had the highest incidents of a child or pediatric drownings under at age of five in the last 10 years, so we’re trying to really focus this year on trying to get ahead of the the curve,” the organization’s president, Jay Arthur, told KTAR News 92.3 FM last week. “So far, so good. We’re off to a better start than last year.”
His biggest piece of advice for parents wanting to prevent child drownings is to make sure kids don’t have access to an unsecured backyard or spa.
“Most of the fatalities actually involved children that weren’t … in a swimming-related activity at the time,” Arthur said. “So they made it to their backyard pool or spa through an unsecured door or window or some method.”
More tips Arizona parents should use to prevent child drownings
Another way to prevent child drownings is to install high latches on barriers around swimming pools or alarm systems, he added.
“For under $30, you can secure your your doors and your windows,” Arthur said. “You can be proactive.”
A lock or alarm system can help parents quickly intervene before things take a dangerous turn.
How can locks, alarm systems help prevent child drownings?
“A 2- or 3-year-old knows how to open a sliding door or turn a door knob or get a small lock undone,” Arthur said. “But if you put high locks on doors and alarms, when you’ve averted your attention to cooking or taking care of other kids and things like that, you’re alerted.”
Arthur, who is a former Phoenix Fire Captain, said fire departments in the Valley began to prioritize responding to water incidents in 1989.
Families in need can find free or reduced swimming lessons on his organization’s website, he added. It also provides CPR training for worst-case scenarios.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Bill O’Neil contributed to this report.
KTAR News and Fulton Homes want to remind you that two seconds is too long to take your eyes off kids near water. To learn more about this campaign, visit the 2 Seconds is Too Long website.
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