Block, Watch and Learn – Stay safe in and around your pool

Every year we hear the stories and see the headlines.

More children dead or severely injured and parents dazed, shocked and ruined.

It could be a swimming pool, a bathtub or even a bucket of water. All water can lead to drownings. Phoenix firefighters who try their best to keep victims alive say that all drownings can be prevented.

“There is always a way to avoid the tragedy,” said veteran Phoenix Fire Captain Jay Arthur. “That’s why we need to keep having events and educating parents and children with our drowning prevention message.”

Captain Arthur has worked 30 years as a Phoenix firefighter. He’s answered thousands of calls with his colleagues. He knows the difference between life and death can be as simple as closing the back door, not dozing off in your backyard recliner and learning water safety along with your children.

“Any layers you can put between your children and the pool helps,” said Arthur.

That’s the “block” in the “block, watch and learn” message Phoenix Fire brings to thousands of children and adults through their education programs. “Watch” means to keep eye-to-eye contact with children every time they are near water. No answering the phone, flipping the burger or running in the house. “Learn” is the goal of swimming lessons for children, starting at young ages, and C.P.R. training for all teens and adults.

“To have a chance for survival in a drowning incident, someone must be able to do effective C.P.R.,” said Arthur.

As of the start of April, rescue crews had responded to eight drowning or near drowning calls. Seven of those involved children. The one adult died.

But the message does seem to be getting out. Child drownings and near drownings in Phoenix have fallen three years in a row.

“Education can make a difference,” said Arthur. “We can change people’s lives by making a strong impression on them.”

Water safety is front and center on the Phoenix Fire Department Web site, phoenix.gov/fire. They post a running tally of this year’s drownings and near drownings as a poignant reminder. You can also call the Water Safety Hotline at 602-495-5555 for more information.

We all need to embrace the water safety message. Swimming and playing in the water should lead to fun giggles and splashes, not tragic tears.

Please join us for our next Issues and Info Breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday, May 20, at Jillian’s in the Desert Ridge Marketplace.

Phoenix City Councilwoman Peggy Neely represents District 2, which encompasses most of Northeast Phoenix. She can be reached at 602-262-7445 or by e-mail at council.district2@phoenix.gov