PHOENIX — "Watch your kids around water."
It was Dave Munsey's sign off for decades as a meteorologist at FOX 10 in Phoenix. So much so that people would come up to him on the streets and ask why he didn't say it the night before on those rare occasions when he wouldn't.
But "Watch your kids around water" was also something Munsey felt deep in his heart. It wasn't just a sign-off. It was a crusade born out of a tragedy in his own life — a neighbor's child drowning.
12News is beginning a new water safety campaign featuring Munsey and anchor Tram Mai. The goal? Raising awareness about something kills between 800 and 900 children a year according to the national Centers for Disease Control.
In Arizona this year, some 18 people have died through December 7 — 14 adults and four children.
Drowning isn't just something that can happen in a pool, says Munsey, who has collected tales to chill any parent's heart. Children can drown in shallow holes, 5-gallon paint buckets and bathtubs.
Over the coming months, 12News will be promoting water safety and engaging the community we live in in conversations, all with the aim of reducing the number of drownings. The project — which will include public-service announcements and safety segments on 12News — is sponsored by Amazon.
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.