Only YOU Can Prevent Tragedy Around Arizona's Swimming Pools

Does this photo startle you? It should.

Now that warmer weather has arrived in Southern Arizona, fun in the water will be part of gatherings and vacation plans. Our wonderful climate brings many opportunities for children and parents to enjoy outdoor activities, especially swimming, whether at the pool, river or lake.

Accidents can happen if we take a vacation from safety. The good news is that many water tragedies can be prevented. Remember some basic rules of water safety.

LEARN CPR. Families with backyard pools must insist that babysitters, grandparents and anyone else who cares for their children learn lifesaving CPR. You can sign up for Red Cross CPR on our website.
Never leave a child unattended near water. It only takes a second for a small child to fall into a pool and slip underwater. When infants or toddlers are playing near a pool, an adult should be no more than an arm's length away, providing "reach supervision."
Keep basic lifesaving equipment near the pool, and know how to use it. The Red Cross recommends a reaching pole, a portable phone and U.S. Coast Guard-approved flotation devices — such as life jackets and ring buoys. If you have a backyard pool, consider installing an underwater motion detecting pool alarm, which is sensitive enough to sound at even an unexpected splash in the water.

Keep toys away from the pool area. Because toys can attract children, it is safest to keep them out of sight when the pool is not being used.
Surround a backyard pool with a fence at least 4 feet high on all sides. To prevent a child from gaining access to the water, the Red Cross recommends that the fence have a self-closing, self-latching gate that remains locked when the pool is not being used. The safest fence will have vertical bars with spacing small enough that children cannot slip through them. Pool fences should not have any footholds or ledges that might allow a child to climb over.
Post clear CPR instructions and your local emergency number in a visible place near the pool in case of an emergency. Installing a phone in the pool area or keeping a cordless phone nearby is also useful.
Make an emergency plan. If a child is missing from the pool area, check the pool first. Make sure to go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire body of water, bottom and surface, as well as the surrounding pool area.

By implementing these layers of safety, pool owners can reduce the startling high number of drowning deaths — 350 — which occur each year among children aged 5 years and younger.

To put it simply, never, EVER leave a child unattended around a pool. Almost one quarter of the infant and child drowning deaths each year occur in the home — the majority of which could have been prevented if an adult had been there to supervise.