PHOENIX — Phoenix police say a 5-year-old boy has died away after he was pulled from a swimming pool Friday afternoon in Phoenix.
According to the Phoenix Fire Department, the child was pulled out of a pool at an apartment complex near 30th Street and Osborn Road, and bystanders began performing CPR before paramedics arrived.
It's not yet known how long the child was underwater. Authorities say that the boy was transported to the hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries.
The details of how the child got into the pool and the circumstances surrounding the drowning remain under investigation.
Editors note: Authorities initially said the child was 7 years old but later identified him as 5.
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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.