When summer is in full swing, Arizonans enjoy spending their days out on the lake or swimming in their backyards to cool down from the grueling heat. Currently, 1 in 3 Arizona homes has a swimming pool, which not only provides family fun, but also brings relief from the desert sun. However, with our exploding population, practicing water safety is more essential than ever to ensure our kids live long, healthy lives.
Today, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death in the U.S among children ages 1 to 4. In Arizona, they are drowning at almost double the national average. Moreover, for every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal injuries. These injuries include severe brain damage and long-term disabilities.
Phoenix Children’s and community partners team up for water safety
With the daunting statistics facing our community, Phoenix Children’s has partnered with SRP and Aqua-Tots Swim Schools to prevent child drownings. Thanks to our partners' support, our Water Safety Program provides critical learning, resources and education around water safety to parents and families.
Additionally, thanks to Valley Toyota Dealers, Phoenix Children’s offers free water safety kits to help caregivers reduce drowning risks. The kits include tips on how to improve pool supervision, a bag, a towel and more.
And in 2020, our injury prevention team pioneered the Pediatric Drowning Prevention Program to equip pediatricians in the Valley with the tools and training they need to educate families about water safety during regularly scheduled well-child visits for at-risk children. In 2022, grant funding from SRP helped us extend the program to pediatrician practices statewide.
To date, the Pediatric Drowning Prevention Program has helped Arizona pediatricians:
- Address water safety during more than 3,200 well visits.
- Distribute 4,620 handouts to help families keep their little ones safe around water.
In addition, Phoenix Children's has shared the program's curriculum at national health care conferences, bringing water safety education and resources to pediatricians nationwide.
Learn more now about Phoenix Children’s Water Safety Program and the ways our community is joining together to help reduce the number of child drownings in Arizona.
Phoenix Children's drowning prevention program is a leader in Arizona for bringing the best and latest resources to providers across the state. This program is made possible through the generosity of supporters like YOU.
