We are approaching the summer months in Arizona. This means Arizona families will find ways to beat the heat, many of them heading to the pools as a way to stay cool and have some fun.
This includes a backyard pool, visiting a friend's house for a party or heading to one of the public pools in our area.
Unfortunately, this is also the time of the year that we hear about many deadly drownings in the Valley.
According to the Phoenix Fire Department's website, drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children under the age of four in Arizona.
Phoenix firefighters say while most children drown in their own pools, many of them can also drown in canals, buckets, toilets, bathtubs and ponds.
While we know these fatal incidents can be tragic, Phoenix Fire says that non-fatal drownings can cause permanent brain damage.
Of course, these incidents can be avoidable.
Here are safety tips while you are in the pool:
- Learn to swim.
- Two seconds are too long when our kids are around water;
- Feet first, first time (never dive in water for which you have not determined the depth);
- Never swim alone;
- Never swim under the influence of alcohol or medication;
- Never swim when you hear thunder or see lightning;
- Never dive into an unfamiliar body of water.
- Learn CPR.