According to the Children's Safety Zone, 13 children under age 12 have died of drowning in Maricopa County so far this year. That’s one more than all of 2023.
The latest victims, a 2-year-old who fell in a hot tub and a 2-year-old girl found in a backyard pool in separate incidents last weekend, were rushed to the hospital but did not survive.
There have been 35 total water-related deaths this year in Maricopa County through June 17, including one teenager and 21 adults.
Jay Arthur, president of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona, expressed deep concern over the recent incidents.
"We encourage and try to tell people once we see all these incidents happening, that the reason why is that they need to find a way to secure the doors and windows that lead out to the pool area," said Arthur. "It could be a simple inexpensive fix by putting extra locks or two on."
Arthur also mentioned the critical importance of constant supervision and the need for swimming lessons, along with CPR training.
Educating the community about pool safety remains a top priority for the organization, Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona.
As summer temperatures rise, residents are reminded to remain vigilant and install safety measures to protect children from the dangers of drowning.
