PHOENIX — The Phoenix Fire Department said a 16-month-old boy has died after being pulled from a backyard pool in Phoenix Friday evening.
Firefighters were called to the home near 51st Avenue and Bell Road around 5:30 p.m.
Firefighters said the family was able to pull the boy from the water and start CPR before emergency crews arrived.
Officials said the boy was transported to the hospital in extremely critical condition but later died from his injuries.
It’s unclear at this time how long the child was underwater.
Firefighters originally said the child was 18 months old, but later corrected themselves to say 16 months old.
Earlier in the day, a babysitter was charged with child endangerment after an infant nearly drowned while under her care, according to the El Mirage Police Department.
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Drowning Prevention Tips:
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between ages 1-4 aside from birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Three children die every day as a result of drowning. Here are some tips from the CDC on how to protect children around water:
Learn life-saving skills.
Everyone should know the basics of swimming (floating, moving through the water) and CPR.
Fence it off.
Install a four-sided isolation fence, with self–closing and self–latching gates, around backyard swimming pools. This can help keep children away from the area when they aren’t supposed to be swimming. Pool fences should be completely separate the house and play area from the pool.
Life jackets are a must.
Make sure kids wear life jackets in and around natural bodies of water, such as lakes or the ocean, even if they know how to swim. Life jackets can be used in and around pools for weaker swimmers too.
Keep a close watch
When kids are in or near water (including bathtubs), closely supervise them at all times. Because drowning happens quickly and quietly, adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like reading books, talking on the phone, or using alcohol and drugs.
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