Summertime in Arizona means 24/7 sunscreen, cooling down with an Eegee, and lots of pool time. With more swimming and time spent outside, now is the time to brush up on your water safety education. Let‘s make sure everyone stays safe this summer!
The Basics
Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death for children under 5, and even more concerning, Arizona ranks among the states with the highest rates of child drowning incidents. We all have the responsibility and ability to change that.
Take note— many youth drownings actually occur during non-swim times. Think family gatherings near the pool or any brief lapse of supervision.
Now What?
Swim lessons and water safety education are the most important ways to prevent accidental drownings. When it comes to water safety, the earlier, the better! Kids of all ages, especially toddlers, should take annual swim lessons to maintain skills and knowledge.
Parents and guardians! It is never too late to learn how to swim or re-learn the basics. Along with group and private swim lessons for kids, the Tucson J also offers private lessons year-round for people of all ages.
Adults should also consider training in CPR so that if an emergency does occur, they are prepared for anything.
Layers of swim protection
- Swim lessons
- Never leave children unattended by any body of water of any depth (drownings can happen in the bathtub!)
- Wear life jackets when appropriate
- Residential pools should be enclosed with self-closing and self-latching gates
- Do not rely on floaties or inflatable toys as safety devices
- Teach children to wait for permission to get in the water
Enforce these pool rules at all times
- No running
- No rough play
- No breath holding games
- No diving in shallow water (6-7 feet minimum dive depth recommended)
This summer, join the Tucson J aquatics staff for our annual TMC Community Water Safety Day! In honor of Drowning Impact Awareness Month, on August 2 from 12-4pm, everyone is welcome to join for a free afternoon of water safety demonstrations, raffles, bounce houses, snacks, and more!
