SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A child died after being found unconscious in a backyard pool in Scottsdale, fire department officials said.
First responders were called to a home near McDowell and Scottsdale roads just before 7:30 p.m. for reports of a drowning. CPR was being performed on the 4-year-old boy, who was unconscious and not breathing when officials arrived.
Dave Folio with the Scottsdale Fire Department said the boy was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The property where the child died is a short-term rental and did not have a gate around the pool, Folio said. He said he was not sure if the people inside were renting the property or if it was the family who owned the home there tonight.
It is not known how long the boy was in the water before being discovered.
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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