PHOENIX — A 3-year-old boy is in critical condition after a near-drowning in a backyard pool in north Phoenix Saturday evening, the Phoenix Fire Department said.
Fire crews say that family members pulled the boy from the water of a backyard pool near 16th Street and Aire Libre Avenue around 7:30 p.m. Bystanders started CPR on the boy before the firefighters arrived.
The boy was rushed to the hospital and is in "extremely critical condition". It is unclear how long the boy was in the water.
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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.
