West Valley families receive free pool fences for summer safety

Nine West Valley families have been awarded free backyard pool fences as part of a regional drowning-prevention initiative ahead of rising summer temperatures.

The installations are the centerpiece of the 5th Annual Pool Fence Safety Program. Over a two-week installation window, the life-saving barriers were erected at selected homes across Buckeye, Litchfield Park, Avondale, Tolleson, Peoria, El Mirage and Laveen.

Organizers targeted vulnerable households with young children where a structural barrier was unaffordable, including single-parent homes, households navigating adoption and environments where grandparents serve as the primary caregivers.

"A properly installed pool fence, paired with active supervision, swim lessons and water safety education, can make a life-saving difference," said Caitlin Sageng, vice president of program operations at Child Crisis Arizona.

According to organizational data, drowning remains the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4.

West Valley recipient Tamara Drown, whose 17-month-old resides in the home, called the structural safety asset an answered prayer. "While we do everything possible to supervise her closely, we know supervision alone is not always enough," Drown said.

In tandem with the physical infrastructure placements, Child Crisis Arizona hosts Safe Kids Maricopa County, a localized chapter of a global injury-prevention network. The group offers free public safety resources, including a virtual Water Safety Workshop accessible online at childcrisisaz.org.