Pool safety goes beyond pool gates, floaties

There have been four water-related incidents reported in Pima County this year.

Last year, there were 18 water-related incidents including seven deaths, according to statistics from the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona. Four children drowned in 2011 throughout Pima County.

Capt. Jeff Langejans of the Tucson Fire Department explained the ABCs of pool safety:

• Adult supervision: Designate an adult to be in charge of supervising children while swimming. That person should keep his eyes on the pool and not have his attention taken away by phone calls or other distractions.

• Barriers: Make sure a fence is installed surrounding a pool to keep children out of the pool area. Fences should have self-closing and self-latching gates that open away from the pool so children can't open the gate by pushing on it. Doors that lead from a home to the pool area should also have self-latching mechanisms.

• Classes: Adults should be CPR-certified to help in emergencies, and kids should take swimming lessons.

"I think the best thing a parent can do for a child in ensuring them against a drowning incident is enrolling them in swim lessons as soon as they can," Langejans said. "Obviously if a child can swim, they're going to have a much greater chance of survival if they do get in a bad situation."

Swimming Lessons

• Tucson Parks and Recreation: 791-4245. The department only has openings for its July swim-class sessions, offered this summer at the discounted rate of $2 due to funds donated by the Tucson Police Department.

• Pima County Natural Resources, Parks & Recreation: go to www.pima.gov/nrpr/pools/swimlessons.htm or call the county pool nearest you to ask about lessons.

More safety tips

• Keep toys out of sight or out of the pool area so they don't attract children.

• Floaties and other inflatables are not lifesaving devices.

• Always completely remove covers from pools or spas, as children can get trapped under these covers.

CPR Classes

Save-a-Life Foundation: 623-8484

American Red Cross: 1-800-445-8210