News

Water wise: East Valley first responders share life-saving tips and experiences working water-related emergencies

May 212013

There is a distinct warning tone sounded at the Apache Junction Fire District to signal drowning calls. Mark Gomez doesn’t even like to describe it. “I don’t ever want to hear it,” said Mr. Gomez, AJFD’s EMS/training coordinator. “It raises the hair on the back on my neck.”

Like so many first fire departments in the far East Valley, Mr. Gomez has seen his share of drownings. Some have had happy outcomes. Some have not.

The drowning death May 15 in Glendale of a 17-month-old boy believed to have crawled outside through a built-in doggy-door to the backyard pool is a reminder that fatal accidents can happen anytime, anywhere to anyone. Between Jan. 1 and May 15 of this year in Maricopa and Pinal counties, there have been 36 water-related incidents, according to the website www.childrensafetyzone.com. Of those there were 12 deaths, including three children.

Children’s Safety Zone collaborates with local fire departments, hospitals and media to gather statistics and stories on water-related incidents and fatalities in Arizona.

During that time frame, the Queen Creek Fire Department responded to water-related pediatric calls (for ages 5 and younger) for two children. Rural/Metro Fire Department in Pinal County, which serves San Tan Valley, responded to one pediatric call. Mesa Fire Department has been the busiest this year, responding to three water-related calls — two pediatric calls and one for a child between 6-12 years. The Apache Junction Fire District, which serves AJ and Gold Canyon, has responded to two pediatric calls this year.

“That’s two too many,” Tina Gerola, the district’s public education coordinator, said in a phone interview last week. “Our target is zero.”

Drowning is the top cause of injury-related death for children across the United States, according to a press release from the Maricopa Fire Department about May being National Water Safety Month. More than 1,000 children drowned in 2006 nationwide, the release said. Arizona ranked second in the nation for child drownings. To reduce the number of water-related emergencies in San Tan Valley, RMFD acted as the driving force behind forming the San Tan Valley Public Safety Coalition last year. Its goal is to build a strong and safe community through ongoing events and safety campaigns, according to a story published Oct. 19 in the Independent.

“Rural/Metro started it with Southwest Ambulance, Air Evac, Banner Ironwood, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office and the Johnson Ranch Homeowners Association,” Colin Williams, public information officer for RMFD, said during a phone interview last week. “We all come together for various events and public awareness campaigns, like the one held a month ago at the Circle K at Ironwood and Ocotillo.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about thinking about drowning prevention,” Mr. Williams continued. “People need to be super vigilant around children. There is no better supervision than direct eye supervision.”

http://arizona.newszap.com/eastvalley/122572-114/water-wise-east-valley-first-responders-share-life-saving-tips-and-experiences-working-water-related

Chandler Family Escapes Fire Because of City-installed Smoke Detector

May 212013

Chandler fire officials say a smoke detector they installed likely saved the lives of six children and their parents Wednesday morning. Firefighters responded about 3:30 a.m. to the home near Arizona Avenue and Pecos Road, where they saw “a lot of fire and smoke” coming from outside the house, Chandler Fire Department spokesman Battalion Chief Tom Dwiggins said. A family of eight was standing outside.

A fire had been burning outside the home against the exterior wall to the bedroom where all six children were sleeping, Dwiggins said. Eventually, the window broke and smoke got inside the house, setting off the smoke detector. The alarm woke up the parents and they were able to get all the children, ages 12 and under, safely out of the house, he said.

One firefighter recognized the home from a smoke alarm walk the department did in October with the Arizona Burn Foundation in which volunteers went door to door installing free smoke detectors for homes that didn’t have one and replacing batteries in homes that did, Dwiggins said. The oldest daughter and Fire Department records confirmed volunteers had installed the smoke detector in the house.

The alarm likely saved the family’s lives, he said. “It was a brand new detector because we had just installed it,” Dwiggins said. “The first time that it started sensing smoke, it went off and boom, they were outside of the house.” Investigators still are trying to determine what caused the fire, he said.

There was significant smoke and water damage inside, as well as damage from the firefighters’ efforts to extinguish the blaze, Dwiggins said. The family was staying with relatives that lived nearby. The Fire Department has done several smoke alarm walks in recent years in partnership with the burn foundation, canvassing neighborhoods with homes that might not having smoke detectors, he said.

Having a working smoke alarm is important because the warning it gives residents is crucial to their ability to escape, Dwiggins said.

“A lot of people think that it’s the actual flames or the fire that is going to potentially kill them in a house fire, but it’s actually the smoke,” he said. “As the house starts to fill up with smoke, that smoke level eventually gets to where you’re at and you start to breathe in these toxic fumes and… your brain stops functioning like it should, you start to panic, and before you know it, getting out of your bed and out of your room becomes very difficult.”

Smoke alarms should be installed outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. They should be tested once a week, and the batteries replaced at least once a year.

Water Safety: How To Keep The Kids Safe Around The Beach Or Pool

May 152013

Whether planning a beach vacation this summer or staying closer to home at the neighborhood pool, it’s important to be mindful of water safety and how to keep the kids out of danger. As owner of Charlotte Safety Training, Brian Coffey provides lifeguard training, aquatic safety assessments, emergency plan development, coach safety training and more. Coffey lends his decades of experience in this business to provide expert tips on ways to have a safe and happy summer by the water.

General Water Safety

Be aware that drowning happens very quietly and quickly. It’s a major misconception that a drowning victim will call for help. Most often, the victims can’t call for help because they’re trying to breathe. Bobbing up and down with thrashing arms doesn’t always accompany a struggling swimmer. What does drowning look like? Coffey says it will look different for every individual. Some parents have mistaken it for playing.

Don’t rely solely on the lifeguard. Coffey says that many parents take their kids’ safety for granted simply because there is a lifeguard on duty. It’s important to keep in mind that lifeguards often get distracted and have a whole pool or beachfront to monitor. Keep an eye on your kids at all times.

Get swim lessons. Water survival training can begin as soon as the child is crawling. Children can get acclimated to water at an early age, but teaching them how to swim without professional knowledge can be a complicated process. Coffey says that human beings are naturally vertical creatures, whereas swimming requires a horizontal position, so this transition requires a new set of skills and a muscle-ready body. It’s great to get your kids in swim class as early as possible.

Teach your child how to put on a life jacket. If without swimming capabilities, a child should be taught how to put on a life jacket.

Caregivers must be taught the swimming rules. Grandparents, neighbors and babysitters should all be taught how important it is to watch children at all times.

Don’t rely on floaties. Floaties promote a vertical body position, whereas children should be practicing a horizontal position. Coffey says floaties offer a false sense of security.

Beach Safety

Never, ever allow a child to swim unless a lifeguard is present. Coffey says water depth can be deceiving. A child may be in water chest-deep when a wave comes and changes water depth, knocking him off his feet or carrying him away with a rip current.

Understand the consequences of currents. A rip current can take a swimmer deeper out to sea. A long shore current follows the wind direction and runs parallel to the shore. At sea, lost kids are most often the result of long shore currents. While playing in the water and jumping off the ground, children can be unknowingly carried along the shore. Parents panic, assuming the child has drowned, but Coffey says that parents should look downwind in the event the current has overtaken the child. In the ocean, kids should not go out further than waist deep.

Be proactive. Begin the beach visit with a lifeguard lesson and introduce your child to the lifeguard. Train kids to go directly to the lifeguard for assistance, and teach them that when the lifeguard leaves, they should leave the water. Coffey says he teaches lifeguards to be proactive by approaching parents and offering water advice.

Remember, many people–especially children–often overestimate their swimming abilities, so it’s important to keep a dilligent eye on the kids at all times when hanging out by the pool or on the beach. Follow these guidelines and your summer will go swimmingly

DROWNING PREVENTION OFFICIALS: “GETTING TO THE POINTE OF WATER SAFETY”

May 092013

The Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona and water safety advocates join together for a
public family-friendly event designed to educate the community about the
importance of safety around water on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

The “Getting to the Pointe of Water Safety” event and Shark-fest fundraiser will be
held at The Hole-In-The-Wall River Ranch at Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort.

This FREE event is held annually to bring the community together at Pointe Hilton
Squaw Peak Resort for a fun opportunity to remind families the importance of
water safety and is a one-stop-shop for education and information.

Expected features:

Phoenix Fire Department Vehicles & Phoenix Police Department Helicopter
Phoenix Suns Gorilla and other local mascots and celebrities & interactive events
Rescue boats
Water safety advocates keynote speakers at 10 a.m.
Realistic rescue demonstration
CPR demonstrations
Car seat Safety Information
Water safety products demonstrations
Shark-fest” shark races held every hour with guests winning great prizes

WHEN:
Saturday,May 11^th – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: River Ranch at Pointe Hilton Squaw
Peak Resort, 7677 N.16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85020

Mesa Fire Department responds to drowning call; child listed in extremely critical condition

May 072013

MESA, AZ – A toddler is in critical condition after the child got into the family pool while his aunt was sleeping, according to Mesa Fire Department officials.

Mesa firefighters responded to the drowning call involving a 1-year-old boy around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday at the home near Alma School and Main roads.

The child’s aunt called 911 after finding the child floating in the pool. She told Mesa fire officials that she fell asleep for 20 to 30 minutes and that the boy must have gotten outside through a doggie door.

Fire personnel performed CPR on the boy before he was transported to a local hospital. He is currently listed in extremely critical condition.

Springs fire 80% contained, five firefighters suffer minor injuries

May 072013

Aided by cooling temperatures and rain, firefighters battling the massive Springs fire in Ventura County have the blaze 80% contained, the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Monday.

The fire has burned 28,000 acres and is expected to be fully contained by Tuesday.

At its peak, the blaze threatened some 4,000 homes, authorities said. Fifteen houses were damaged but none were destroyed. Five firefighters and one civilian suffered minor injuries

Fire that killed BU student was caused by careless disposal of smoking materials

May 062013

Investigators have determined that the Allston fire that killed a Boston University student last week was caused by the careless disposal of smoking materials, the Boston Fire Department said today.

The department said it based its conclusions on the burn patterns inside the three-story house at 87 Linden St., interviews with the former residents, and physical evidence collected by fire investigators.

Binland Lee, 22, a marine sciences major from Brooklyn, NY, lived on the third floor and was fatally injured during the fire.

Investigators concluded the fire originated near an interior staircase, the department said.

“Specifically, it started in the area of an interior staircase that was permanently blocked off on the first floor but was an open space to those using the stairs to the second floor from the rear of the house,’’ the statement said. A fire that eventually needed a three-alarm response to bring under control was reported at 6:35 a.m. on April 28.

The city’s Inspectional Services Department cited landlord Anna Belokurova, a Newton resident, for running an illegal rooming house after authorities concluded 19 people were living in what was supposed to be a two-family home. The city had not inspected the property since 1992, officials said this week.

Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley’s office is continuing its inquiry into the circumstances of the fire, but prosecutors have not yet concluded whether to bring criminal charges against Belokurova or anyone else.

Toddler in critical condition after near-drowning in Mesa

May 012013

A toddler is in critical condition after the child got into the family pool while his aunt was sleeping, according to Mesa Fire Department officials.

Mesa firefighters responded to the drowning call involving a 1-year-old boy around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday at the home near Alma School and Main roads.

Fire personnel performed CPR on the boy before he was transported to a local hospital. He is currently listed in extremely critical condition.

Summer 2013 is almost here

Apr 302013

The summer swimming season is right around the corner! As you prepare, we want to
remind you of all the resources and materials CPSC offers to help in your
outreach to ensure children and families stay safe around pools and spas.

Materials: Don’t forget to order free materials from Pool Safely for your summer activities. The
campaign offers a variety of items including tip cards, water watcher cards,
mini beach balls, posters and much more. For more information, see our resources page,
and to place an order, send an email to poolsafely@cpsc.gov.

May Is National Water Safety Month: Pool Safely is proud to support National Water
Safety Month (NWSM), which is a joint effort of many Pool Safely
partners, including the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, American Red
Cross and World Waterpark Association. NWSM provides the opportunity to
promote water safety through activities, events and distributing materials that
educate the public about water safety. To learn more and share your plans,
visit www.nationalwatersafetymonth.org.

World’s Largest Swimming Lesson: Pool Safely is excited to be a supporter
once again of the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL) on June 18, which is
organized by our partner the World Waterpark Association. The 2012 event broke
the Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous swimming lesson with
24,873 participants and they are looking to break the record again this year!
For more information or to register a WLSL event, visit www.worldslargestswimminglesson.org.

Pool Safely partners and community members that sign up to host or co-host a WLSL event are
eligible for a special Pool Safely material kit. The kit includes Pool
Safely handouts and education materials, such as:

Water Watcher Cards (50)

Mini Pool Balls (100 – six-inch blow up beach style balls)

Pool Safely Tattoos (100)

Splish & Splash Tattoos (100)

Fans (100)

Brochures (100)

Display Stand for Tip Cards or Brochures (1)

Posters (40)

To receive a kit, sign up to participate here and let us know of
your WLSL involvement by email at poolsafely@cpsc.gov.

If you need Spanish language items, let us know.

Pool Safely Events:
Keep these dates in mind as you continue planning your activities for summer.
We will provide more detailed information as it is available.

First Splash summer kickoff event (May 23)

Pool Safely Week (July 28 – August 3)

Please keep me posted on your drowning prevention efforts, and thanks for your
continued support.

Thank
you,

Kathleen Reilly

Pool Safely Campaign Leader

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

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