PHOENIX — A 2-year-old boy who was taken to the hospital in extremely critical condition after being found unconscious and not breathing in a hot tub in west Phoenix has died, according to Phoenix police.
Phoenix fire said CPR was initiated before the fire crew's arrival and it is unknown how long the child was in the water.
The police department later added that the child, later identified as Axiel Marguez, did not survive and was pulled out of an above-ground hot tub and that their preliminary investigation shows that this was a "tragic accident."
The boy's drowning is still under investigation and police expect to release more details on Sunday.
This is a developing story and more details will be added as they are made available.
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 in open water.
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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