SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A 1-year-old boy fell into a backyard pool in Scottsdale and was rushed to the hospital.
Scottsdale Fire Department officials said they were told the boy was unsupervised for two minutes when he fell in.
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Emergency crews were called to a home near Cactus Road and 90th Street just before 7 p.m. for reports of a near-drowning.
"When crews arrived he was crying and aspirated a large amount water," Captain Dave Folio, public information officer for the Scottsdale Fire Department said in a statement.
The boy is in serious condition.
"Two seconds is too long to not watch your children around water," Folio said. "The adult must watch swimmers with their eyes and not be doing anything else!"
As Memorial Day weekend kicks off, it is important to know how to keep kids safe around water.
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.
Adult Supervision
The adult must watch swimmers with their eyes and not be doing anything else!
Barriers
A barrier is something that keeps you away from danger. A few examples of barriers around water are a locked fence around a pool or a closed lid on a toilet or a closed door leading to the bathroom. Coast Guard-approved Life Vests and Classes Anyone who does not know how to swim must wear a Coast Guard-approved life vest. Floaters are toys and do not count as a life vest.
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