Drowning remains the leading cause of death of children ages 1 to 4 remains among the top five causes of death for children ages 5 to 9, according to a news release.

That’s why Child Crisis Arizona has partnered with SRP, State Farm, the Independent Pool & Spa Service Association, Inc., and local firefighter charities to pioneer the Pool Fence Safety Program, the release states.

This year, two Chandler families are among the beneficiaries.

Now in its fourth year, the program has a mission of equipping families with vital protection, free of charge.

While no single measure can single-handedly avert such tragedies, the release states, the program strives to create multiple layers of defense, surrounding children with safety.

This year, Child Crisis Arizona announced the program award of seven pool fences to families across Chandler, San Tan Valley, Apache Junction, and Mesa.

In the span of two weeks, these fences are finding their place in these families’ yards. These households include families where the grandparents serve as primary caregivers, single-parent households and households where children are in the adoption process.

One such parent getting a pool fence is Erica Culley of Chandler, who recently had a water incident at her home.

“Our 2-year-old son, Tilian, has a unique obsession with water,” Culley said in the release. “He is currently undergoing tests for autism but has zero fear of water — so much so, in fact, he keeps jumping into water at several family members’ homes. Thankfully, people have always been around. But the fear is there.”

While Culley and her family watch Tilian diligently at home, they fear with a busy home — a dog that needs to be let out, and more — that he may get out and hurt.

“We shopped around for the past two years for a pool fence, and the prices have been a major challenge,” Culley said. “We are ecstatic to be getting a fence from SRP and Child Crisis Arizona to keep Tilian safe.”

Anita Alfaro and her family are the other Child Crisis fence recipients in Chandler this year.

According to Child Crisis Arizona’s Pool Fence Safety Program for all caregivers, here are critical ways to keep kids safe around the pool this summer:

• A pool fence should surround all sides of the pool and be at least 5 feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates.

• Make sure that all furniture is on the inside of the pool fence so that children cannot use it to climb over the fence.

• Ensure that the pool gate is always properly latched and closed and that it is not broken.

• Children should not be able to go under, over, or around the pool fence.

• Never allow a child to sit on or next to a drain. Teach your child not to swim or play near the drain.

• Swim with a partner. Keep young children and weak swimmers within arm’s reach of an adult. Make sure older children swim with a partner every time.

• Children can be small enough to fit through a “doggie door” when parents are not aware. Lock doggie doors so that it creates a barrier between the child and water.

In addition to hosting the Pool Fence Safety program, Child Crisis Arizona is also home to Safe Kids Maricopa County, a local chapter of a worldwide organization aiming to prevent childhood injury and death.

Through this program, Child Crisis Arizona offers dozens of no-cost, online, and in-person safety courses, including its virtual Water Safety Workshop available online at childcrisisaz.org.

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