Category: Swimming Pool Accidents

A 2-year-old girl drown in a Litchfield Park pool earlier this week after her parents lost sight of her for two to five minutes, according to local police. The incident occurred at about 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at a family gathering that the girl was attending.

The pool was located in the backyard of the home and was surrounded by a fence but that a gate in the fence had been propped open, allowing access to the water. The family lost sight of the child for only a few minutes and when she was found, she was in the water and unresponsive.

The child was removed from the water and the homeowner performed CPR until paramedics arrived and took the child to an area hospital but despite their efforts, she was later pronounced dead.

The Children’s Safety Zone, an organization that works with Arizona fire departments, hospitals, and media to gather statistics related to water-related incidents and deaths within the state, says that there have been 16 deaths in the state in 2013, five of which were children. Drowning remains the leading cause of death among children ages one to four in Arizona and continues to claim lives annually.

Cities in Arizona often have their own guidelines related to pool safety and they are specific. In Litchfield Park, each pool must be surrounded by a non-climbable fence, wall, or other barrier that is at least five feet high and there cannot be any openings that would allow a round object with a four inch diameter to pass. Importantly, any gates in the fence or wall must be self-closing and self-latching with the latch at least 54 inches from the ground. The purpose of the self-closing and self-latching is to keep the pool area closed at all times to unintended users, like small children. Unfortunately in this case, it appears that a gate was intentionally propped open so that it could not close and therefore there was not a solid barrier between the victim and the water.

A child can drown in as little as a few inches of water and in just moments. Losing sight of a child in the area of a pool can have tragic consequences, as it did in this case and as it has done four times previously this year. Even a small act of negligence can lead to a child drowning.
Continue reading “Toddler Drowns in Arizona Pool After Parents Lose Sight of Her”

Yesterday turned tragic for a family in Phoenix when a young girl drown in a backyard pool. The 2-year-old girl was at the home of her grandmother when she reportedly got access to the pool without the knowledge of an adult.

Firefighters responded to the home, located near Thomas Road and 75th Avenue, where the child was unresponsive. Though first responders transported her to a local hospital, she died as a result of her injuries.

The pool at issue is reportedly a private pool located in the backyard of the grandmother’s house. Early reports indicate that there is not a fence surrounding the pool to prevent unintended or unwanted access to the water.

The City of Phoenix has code provisions requiring the use of a fence with most, if not all, pools. The requirements do vary somewhat depending on when a pool was built but since 1990, all preexisting pools and subsequently built pools were required to meet rigorous safety standards if they were accessible to small children.

Currently, an exterior fence must be at least five feet high without any large gaps or holes. Any gates must be self-closing and self-latching with the ability to accommodate a lock. Pools constructed after 1991 may also be required to have an inner yard barrier regardless of whether or not children are regularly present in the area. The rules and guidelines are very specific and do not leave room for flexibility because the need for proper pool safety equipment is so important.

This time of year, valley pools are in high use. Once we start seeing the temperature spike into the 90s and above, pools are seen as a great way to cool down and as a great way to let kids play outside since the heat can make some parks and playgrounds unfeasible. Even if adults are not thinking about playing in a pool, chances are that a child is if there is a pool or other body of water in sight.

Children are drawn to the water and drawn to pools and they will find a way to get to one if they can. This is why it is crucial that all pool owners and anyone who supervises a child near water be constantly alert for the danger it provides. A child can drown in only a few inches of water in just a matter of minutes meaning that looking away for even a moment can turn deadly.
Continue reading “2-Year-Old Drowns in Phoenix Pool”

A Phoenix swimming pool accident nearly cost a 2-year-old her life last Monday night after the toddler almost drown in a backyard swimming pool, according to the Arizona Republic.

Police officers and firefighters responded to reports of a drowning near 38th and Missouri avenues shortly after 6 p.m. The girl was reportedly playing on the first step of a swimming pool when she slipped off and fell underwater. It’s unclear who long she was submerged. Phoenix police officers found the girl, who was not breathing and had no pulse. She was rushed to St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center where she was listed in critical condition.The federal government reports that drowning is the leading cause of preventable death for children under 5. Each year, an average of 385 children under 15 drown in swimming pools or spas — the vast majority are small children under the age of 5.

The Arizona Department of Health Services reports an average of about 90 people drown in Arizona swimming pools each year.

Last week, the Consumer Products Safety Commission launched a nationwide campaign aimed at pool safety to coincide with Memorial Day weekend and the start of summer swimming season. The Pool Safety Campaign operates a website with a wealth of safety information for parents and kids.

Arizona law (A.R.S. § 39-121.03) mandates specific safety requirements for residential swimming pools, including strict requirements for pool enclosures, gates, pool covers and other safety devices.

The Arizona Department of Health Services makes the following recommendations for pool safety:

-Never leave a child unattended.

-Flotation devices and swimming lessons are no substitute for supervision.

-CPR instructions and emergency contact information should be posted in the pool area.

-Residential pool owners should have CPR training.

-Lifesaving equipment should be easily accessible.

-Gates and locks should be checked regularly to ensure they are functioning properly.

-Gates should never be left open.

-All items that could be used to climb a pool barrier should be removed from the area.