What you need to know to keep your child safe from drowning
Five children have already died in 2018; six in 2017
I think the biggest misconception is that it can’t happen to me. It doesn't matter where you live or what you do. It can happen to anyone.

Contact: media@Bannerhealth.com

PHOENIX (April 20, 2018) – With warmer temperatures on the way, now is a critical time to review safety procedures to make your sure your kids are safe around water, says Tracey Fejt, RN, Trauma Injury Prevention coordinator at Cardon Children's Medical Center.

So far in 2018, five childen under the age of five years old have died from drownings in Maricopa and Pinal counties, according to Children's Safety Zone, a local nonprofit drowning-prevention group. In 2017, 14 people died from drowning; six of whom were young children.

“I think the biggest misconception is that it can’t happen to me,'' Fejt says. "It doesn't matter where you live or what you do. It can happen to anyone.''

In a ready-to-edit video, Fejt, who speaks frequently to adults and children about the importance of water safety, covers these points:

  • Know the ABCS of water safety: That includes having an adult present, making sure barriers to water are intact and knowing CPR.

  • Floaties: You may think they are safe but these “water-wings’’ can pose around danger to children. Know what to look for in selecting and using them.

  • How to make sure other peoples’ homes are water-safe: Sure, you have made your home safe for your kids, but it is important to scope out other places where your child will be around water.

  • What you need to do if your child falls into the water: Calling 911 and administering CPR are critical to keeping your child alive.

  • How to keep your child around lakes: From lakes to wading pools to buckets of water, any water source can be a potential problem.

About Cardon Children’s Medical Center

Cardon Children’s Medical Center provides pediatric care for children, from newborns to teens. Services include immediate access to Level I trauma services and emergency care, a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, general pediatrics, surgical and rehabilitation services, hematology/oncology, urology, gastroenterology, neurology and outpatient services. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com/CardonChildrens.

Fejt's video is available for editing