PHOENIX — A young girl from Ahwatukee is in the hospital after nearly drowning at an apartment complex in Ahwatukee, according to the Phoenix Fire Department.
The department says they were called to the apartment complex, which is near the intersection Ray Road and Ranch Circle East, just east of Sun Ray Park.
When crews arrived they found a 4-year-old girl who was crying and coughing up water after being pulled out of the pool.
Right now, Phoenix fire says the Phoenix Police Department is working to find out how long the girl was in the water and who pulled her out.
She was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
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.
You can find extensive water safety tips on our Water Watch page.
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