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How To Prevent Drowning in Arizona

Drowning is the major cause of death in Arizona in children below four years of age. (See Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona)

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

Step One: Block.
Block accessibility to water. Keep bathroom doors shut so babies can’t drown in toilets. Block the pool with a barrier such as a pool cover or fence.

Step Two – Watch.
Nearly all drownings happen in buckets, bathtubs, toilets, pools, ponds, and lakes.Strict supervision should be exercised near all water.

Step Three – Learn.
Learn how to swim and Learn CPR. All children need to take swimming lessons additionally.

A CPR Class can make the difference between Life and Death to a loved one. Any person that takes care of children must learn CPR and recertify every two years.

When you take a Basic CPR class you will learn to give CPR to adults, Children, and Infants according to the guidelines established by the American Heart Association.

The fact is, when a child drowns first responders such as Paramedics, Firefighters and EMT’s are the first to give CPR. Many bystanders are reluctant to administer CPR because they are afraid of doing it too agressively or hurting the child further. If your child drowns, every second counts. You can’t waste time waiting for EMT’s to arrive to get started on CPR. Every minute that goes by reduces the chance of survival. CPR is usually successful when given within the first five minutes after the patient stops breathing. How long will it take for EMT’s to arrive? Five minutes? Ten minutes? If this is your infant, can you afford to not know CPR?

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