Too often, firefighters hear people say, "It was just a few seconds." Unfortunately, just a few seconds is all it takes for a child to drown. Drowning is the leading cause of death in Arizona for children under the age of five.
Most of these children drown in their own backyard swimming pool, but others drown in buckets, bathtubs, toilets, dog water bowls, canals and ponds. Small children are top-heavy, and they don't have the upper body strength to lift themselves out of one of these dangerous situations. Even if the child survives the incident, they are often left with permanent brain damage.
Drowning and near drowning can be prevented, and you can help. Whether you are at home or away on vacation, anyone involved with the supervision of children needs to be aware of the dangers associated with any body of water. Below are some useful tips to prevent these needless tragedies.
Swimming lessons are a good idea for children of all ages and skill levels. Check out what your local pool has to offer. Visit this Web site to find one near you: phoenix.gov/SPORTS/aquamap.html. Class registration for summer begins May 15 at each individual pool. Class sessions typically last two weeks and cost $6. Residents can contact the pool directly around registration time or check out phoenix.gov/parks/ summer.html (click on Aquatics) for class schedules.
Wherever you are -- vacationing on a beach in San Diego, staying at a hotel with a pool, tubing down a river or boating on a lake -- water safety must be practiced wherever water is present. Don't assume others are watching. Watch your kids around water….always!
Don't hesitate to call my office if you have any questions about water safety or any other programs in District 2. You are also invited to join me at my monthly Issues & Info breakfasts and learn about topics that impact your neighborhood and family. Take the opportunity to ask questions about issues that are important to you. The next one is 7 a.m. Friday, May 21 at Jillian's at Desert Ridge Marketplace. Please call my office for more details. I hope to see you there.
Phoenix City Councilwoman Peggy Neely represents District 2, which encompasses most of northeast Phoenix. She can be reached at (602) 262-7445 or via e-mail at council.district.2@phoenix.gov.
