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Preventing Tragic Child Drownings in Arizona

Drowning is the major reason for death in Arizona (AZ) in kids below four years old. (See Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona)

There is no sole solution recommended to avoid drownings. What is encouraged is a 3-step approach: “Block, Watch and Learn.“

Step One: Block.
Block the backyard pool with a barrier such as a fence or pool cover. Keep bathroom doors closed so small children cannot drown in toilets. Block easy access to water.

Step Two – Watch.
Many common drownings take place in buckets, bathtubs, toilets, pools, ponds, and lakes.Continuous supervision should be practiced in the vicinity of all bodies of water.

Step Three – Learn.
Learn to swim and get trained in CPR. All children have to take swimming lessons also.

CPR Training can be the difference between Life and Death to someone you love. Any person that has children in their care must learn CPR and recertify every two years.

During a CPR Course you will learn to administer CPR to Children, Infants, and Adults according to the guidelines established by the American Heart Association( AHA).

Unfortunately, when a child drowns first responders such as EMT’s, Paramedics, and Firefighters are the first to begin CPR. Lots of bystanders are afraid to perform CPR for fear of doing it too agressively or hurting the person further. If your boy or girl drowns, every second counts. You cannot wait around for paramedics to arrive to initiate CPR. Every minute that goes by decreases the likelihood of survival. CPR is more successful when performed within the 1st 5 minutes after the patient quits breathing. How long will it take for help to arrive? Five minutes? Ten minutes? If this is your kid, can you afford to not know CPR?