Phoenix Fire Launches Water Safety Campaign

Phoenix Fire Department is launching its 2026 water safety campaign to combat drowning, which remains a significant threat, particularly to young children in Arizona. With summer approaching, officials are prioritizing the dissemination of critical safety information to prevent further tragedies.

A Personal Tragedy Highlights the Risk

Wesley, a Phoenix resident, shared a harrowing experience from last year when he found his toddler son unresponsive in a hot tub. Despite diligent safety measures – including fencing, supervision, and swim lessons – the incident occurred. “A lot of people listening to this will think this may never happen to me. I’m vigilant…All our kids, we get swim lessons, too,” Wesley stated.

After 52 minutes of CPR, administered by Phoenix Fire Department personnel and doctors, Wesley’s son survived. He attributes his son’s survival to divine intervention.

Drowning Statistics and Risk Factors

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged 1-4, with most incidents occurring in swimming pools. Key risk factors include a lack of swim training, insufficient supervision, and failure to use life jackets. “It can happen to you,” Wesley cautioned.

Data from Children’s Safety Zone indicates 79 water-related deaths occurred in Maricopa and Pinal counties in 2024. This number decreased to 57 in 2025, despite a similar number of incidents.

The Importance of CPR and First Aid

Immediate Response is Crucial

Michael Lomas of LP Health Directions in Phoenix emphasized the importance of CPR and first aid training. “CPR is very important to learn. First aid skills are important as well…There’s a lag time until paramedics arrive. We’re going to ask the public to provide basic skills to keep this person safe and prevent further harm.”

Lomas detailed the proper CPR technique for infants (two thumbs in the center of the chest) and children (one or two hands). He stressed the importance of continuous cycles of 30 compressions and two rescue breaths to restore oxygenated blood flow to vital organs.

Phoenix Fire’s Proactive Approach

Focus on Prevention and Training

Phoenix Fire Captain Rob McDade highlighted the impact of strong safety messaging and early swim lessons. “My department…hired another statistician to look deeper into our numbers. It was early learn swim lessons and the overriding numbers that really helped drive success rates.” The department is actively promoting swim lessons and CPR training for all family members.

Captain McDade expressed optimism about the decreasing drowning rates, stating, “There’s a decrease. We need to keep that momentum of the numbers going down.”

Resources and Available Assistance

The City of Phoenix offers swim lessons for $15, with some locations providing discounted rates. Additionally, the Child Crisis Center of Arizona is accepting applications for free pool fences for Phoenix-area families through April 5. Officials reiterate that multiple layers of protection are essential to saving lives.