SAFETY ADVOCATES
REMIND RESIDENTS, VISITORS:
DROWNING DOESN’T HAVE
A SEASON
The holidays may be
over, but in the Valley of the Sun, event season has just begun. Sporting
events, car auctions and the annual crown jewel, Waste Management Phoenix Open
has visitors and residents alike distracted.
“Although we see our
incident numbers rise as the weather gets warmer, most pools remain filled all
year long,” said Melissa Sutton, president of the Drowning Prevention Coalition
of Arizona. “And to visitors, our temperatures in January are a dream. This
brings a lot of people to the area who aren’t used to having pools in the
backyard. That lack of awareness can be devastating if a child finds access to
water.”
Sutton also
recognizes that day-to-day life can be distracting enough, leading to tragedy.
“We unfortunately saw
that this weekend,” she said. A 3-year-old drowned Sunday after falling into a
backyard pool in Tolleson. “Our hearts go out to this family. The DPCA is here
to provide emotional support when they are ready.”
“Healing and Hope”
was established by the DPCA in 2017 for families who have experienced a fatal or
non-fatal drowning. Those interested in getting involved may contact Jessica
Curtis, DPCA Vice President and parent who lost a child to drowning. She can be
reached at jessicacurtis@preventdrownings.org for more
information.
The DPCA reminds
everyone that drowning has no season. It is important to remain vigilant during
all times of year, whether a visitor or full-time resident. The coalition offers
these tips:
- Adult
Supervision: Watch each other
around water. Neither adults nor children should swim alone. And if you lose
track of children, always check your water hazards first.
- Barriers: Block access to
water hazards. Put fences around pools with gates shut and locked. Use
protective covers on spas. Close bathroom doors. Dump out water
buckets.
- Classes and
Coast-Guard Approved Life Vests: Learn CPR and ensure
all family members know how to swim. Wear life vests in any water that is above
your swimming ability – especially on open water.
“Our goal every year
is to raise awareness to keep our water-related incident numbers low,” Sutton
says. “If we can keep all of these layers of protection in place, we reduce our
risk of drowning significantly.”
# #
#
The Drowning
Prevention Coalition of Arizona, a community based organization comprised of
parents, health and safety professionals and business leaders, exists to provide
a forum to prevent drowning and near drowning through the promotion of
education, legislative action and enhanced product safety. Check out our
website at www.preventdrownings.org for more
information.
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