PHOENIX — Authorities released new details on a near-drowning incident that occurred in Phoenix this past weekend.
An 11-year-old girl was rushed to the hospital in extremely critical condition Sunday after being found in a central Phoenix swimming pool, according to authorities. The Phoenix Fire Department said the child was found in a backyard pool on the afternoon of May 19 near 19th Avenue and Osborn Road.
An initial investigation by Phoenix police revealed she was reportedly in the pool playing a volleyball game with others when another person noticed her underwater. Police said a family member then jumped into the pool and found her hair was caught on an underwater pool fixture.
The girl was eventually freed and taken out of the pool with help from people nearby, authorities said.
It is not known how long she had been under the water before she was found, according to the fire department.
"When initial contact was made by firefighters, the patient was unconscious and not breathing," the fire department said.
CPR was performed on the girl before firefighters arrived and took over. She was still in critical condition Monday morning.
Phoenix police said the girl was said to be a strong swimmer and this appears to be an accident.
Phoenix police continue to investigate the incident.
This is a developing story; additional details will be added as they become 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.
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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