The importance of water safety
Water activities are popular in the desert Southwest. SRP has long sought to help residents take appropriate measures to ensure that water safety is a part of their daily living.
But as fun as water can be, it also can be dangerous. Arizona is second in the nation for child drowning incidents, and every drowning or near-drowning is preventable. Drowning is a quick and silent killer. Most children drown in their own pools, but many children drown in buckets, toilets and bathtubs. Drowning can occur in 2 inches of water. In 2011 the following occurred:
- There were 180 water-related incidents with 49 deaths (16 children/33 adults).
- Drowning was the top cause of injury-related death for children in Maricopa County, a county with one of the highest child drowning rates in the nation.
