The most recent child death was a 3-year-old from Queen Creek who was pulled from a pool on Dec. 30 and died Jan. 7, according to the Children’s Safety Zone website, which collaborates with local fire departments, hospitals and the media to gather statistics on drowning incidents.
Independent Newsmedia, Arianna Grainey
Water safety education is crucial in preventing accidents and saving lives.
Posted
Water safety and children
Water safety is crucial for children because they are more vulnerable to drowning and other water-related accidents, said Deputy Fire Marshal Tina Gerola, fire inspector and CPR specialist for SFMD.
Key reasons why water safety is so important for children:
• Children’s limited water awareness: Children, especially younger ones, may not fully understand the dangers of water. They often overestimate their ability to swim or might be curious about water without understanding the risks.
• Lack of judgment: Kids may not have the maturity or ability to make quick decisions, which can be dangerous around water. They might not recognize when a situation becomes unsafe, like when water conditions change or when they’re getting too tired to swim.
• Physical vulnerability: Children are smaller and less strong than adults, which makes it harder for them to float or swim in the event of an emergency. Even in shallow water, a child can be at risk if they slip or fall unexpectedly.
• Unexpected situations: Water environments (like pools, lakes, rivers, or even bathtubs) can present hazards such as sudden drops, strong currents, or slippery surfaces that might cause a child to fall or struggle.
• Drowning risks: Drowning can happen quickly and quietly, often without the child making much noise or splashing. This is why supervision is key — adults may not always realize a child is in danger.
Water safety — including the ABCs of water, properly sizing life jackets, in-water lifesaving techniques, hands-on CPR demonstrations and teaching children how to call 911 and what to tell dispatchers if someone is drowning — will be explained to families participating in a free April event offered by the city of Apache Junction, police department and fire district.
“This collaboration ensures a comprehensive approach to water safety from all departments and spread awareness to the community,” said Julia Feraldi, recreation coordinator at the Apache Junction Parks and Recreation Department.
The annual April Pools Day event will be held 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 26, at Superstition Shadows Aquatic Center, 1091 W. Southern Ave.
“We love doing this event as it has huge value from a drowning prevention and awareness standpoint as well as the added bonus of community engagement,” Superstition Fire and Medical District Chief John Whitney said.
There have been four drowning deaths from 10 water-related incidents since the beginning of the year through March 11 in Maricopa and Pinal counties, with none in Apache Junction or Gold Canyon, according to the Children’s Safety Zone website, which collaborates with local fire departments, hospitals and the media to gather statistics on drowning incidents.
All four who died were adults. The latest was a man who died after being found Feb. 19 in a rec center pool in Sun City West, it states.
The most recent child death was a 3-year-old from Queen Creek who was pulled from a pool on Dec. 30 and died Jan. 7, it states.
The fire district’s goal at the April Pools Day event is to ensure the community is aware that child drownings are the No. 1 cause of accidental death for children under age 5, said Deputy Fire Marshal Tina Gerola, fire inspector and CPR specialist for SFMD.
“We will be explaining that drowning is silent, and can happen in less than 60 seconds and less than 2 inches of water. No one is immune to drowning,” she said.
The ABCs of water — adult eye-to-eye undistracted supervision; barriers like pool fences, door and window locks, and anything else that blocks access to the water; and classes to learn how to swim and to learn CPR — are an important layer of drowning prevention, Gerola said.
There will be an emphasis on barriers, she said.
“If they can’t get to it, they can’t drown,” Gerola said.
“Teaching kids water safety and swimming can help prevent accidents in the future. Learning to swim can increase confidence in the water and promote better decision-making skills when around water. Traditional CPR will be demonstrated at this event, which will allow attendees to perform hands-on skills. The bystanders are key, and performing CPR before first-responders arrive could be lifesaving,” she said.
Water safety education is crucial in preventing accidents and saving lives, Feraldi said.
“Understanding risks, knowing how to respond in emergencies, swim lessons and practicing safe habits around water significantly reduce the chances of drowning. With so many recreational water opportunities in Arizona, these skills are essential for all ages,” she said.
During the April Pools Day event, lifeguards and swim instructors will lead interactive activities for all ages, Feraldi said.
“Lifeguards will assist with properly sizing life jackets for attendees, demonstrate at-home in-water life-saving techniques, and provide hands-on CPR demonstrations. Swim instructors will offer mini in-water swim lessons for children and facilitate water safety games to help reinforce important skills in a fun and engaging way,” Feraldi said.
They will also provide information about swim lessons and aquatic-related programs offered by the city of Apache Junction.
“Residents will learn about drowning prevention, emergency response techniques, and how to recognize potential water hazards. Hands-on demonstrations and interactive stations will offer instruction on CPR basics, how to assist someone in distress, and the importance of swimming with a buddy,” she said.
New this year, an impact speaker is to talk about their own personal experience story and journey. Also, more water safety crafts and demonstrations are planned.
Cirkul, a water and beverage company, will be at the event promoting importance of staying properly hydrated, Feraldi said.
The first hour of the 10 a.m.-noon event will be for attendees to check out booths and listen to the impact speaker. At 11 a.m. the pool will be open for public swim until noon. SFMD will serve a free lunch around 11 a.m.
Information about the event will be posted on the city’s website, Civic Rec and social media pages. The event page on Facebook “April Pools Day” will have the most up-to-date information.
At the event, Apache Junction Police Department officials will talk to families about the importance of teaching kids how to call 911 in an emergency, said Rayna Steffen, AJPD public safety information officer.
“These days, it’s not as simple as picking up a phone and dialing — many smartphones require extra steps to access the emergency call screen. We want to make sure parents take the time to walk their kids through how to do it so they’re prepared if they ever need to call for help,” she said.
Last year, AJPD asked parents if their kids knew how to call 911, and many confidently said yes, Steffen said.
“But when we had the kids try it, many of them didn’t remember how. This is a great reminder that teaching kids how to call 911 isn’t a one-time lesson, it’s something parents should go over regularly, just like any other safety skill,” she said. “Water safety is about more than just knowing how to swim, it’s also about knowing what to do if something goes wrong. Making sure kids understand how to call 911 could make all the difference in an emergency, and we want to help parents feel confident that their children know how to get help when it matters most.”
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here