Chandler Council acknowledges drowning prevention needs
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chandler City Council members took a photo with public safety and community services leaders Aug. 11 after Mayor Kevin Hartke read a proclamation declaring August as Drowning Impact Awareness Month in Chandler. In the front row, from the left, are Vice Mayor Christine Ellis, Chandler Fire Department Battalion Chief Blas Minor, city Aquatics Superintendent Chris Smith, Sgt. Noah Dueker of the Chandler Police Department and Mayor Hartke. In back are Councilmembers Jane Poston, Angel Encinas, Matt Orlando, O.D. Harris and Jennifer Hawkins.
Even though National Water Safety Month is each May, the Chandler City Council takes time at least twice per year to promote swimming pool safety.
With so many homes in the city having either a backyard pool or access to one nearby, Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke read a proclamation Aug. 11 and took photos with the City Council and a handful of public and community safety leaders.
The proclamation declared August as Drowning Impact Awareness Month in Chandler.
“Water You Doing” is a safety education campaign the mayor highlighted.
He said water safety starts with the “ABCDs” — adult supervision, barriers such as pool fences and locked doors, classes that include swimming lessons, CPR and other lifesaving measures and, lastly, devices like life jackets for non-swimmers.
Hartke read that drowning can occur in as little as 2 inches of water and that the busy fall months are when many pools are still being used.
Hartke also mentioned the “devastating impact of drowning on families and the community.” On June 29, a 4-year-old boy drowned during a private party at lifeguard-staffed Chandler city pool.
Chandler Fire Department Battalion Chief Blas Minor said there had been 31 drowning deaths in Maricopa County in 2025, as of Aug. 11. He said supervision means direct eye contact at all times.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here