WATER SAFETY

Arizona has a long history of child water-related incidents and remains second, only to Florida, in the highest number of child drownings in the US. The largest percentage of drowning deaths has been among children ages one through four years and there has been an increase in children ages 5 through 9 years old. Ninety-four percent of those child drowning deaths were preventable.

SAFE KIDS PIMA COUNTY WATER SAFETY COALITION

In an effort to reduce child drownings, near drownings and drain entrapments in our community, Safe Kids Pima County provides free pool and spa safety checks to families who have backyard pools and spas. Through the efforts of the Safe Kids Pima County coalition, community partners and the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona we ask you to join our effort in ensuring kids are safe in and around water.

Click to see 2015 Pima County water-related incidents..

WATER SAFETY IS FOR YOU!

Each April, Safe Kids Pima County partners with eight area schools to teach an integrative first-grade curriculum that reinforces the ABCs of water safety:

A = Adult supervision

B = Barriers around pools, spas and hot tubs

C = Classes; swim lessons and life-saving CPR classes

Through funding secured by donations and grants, more than 800 children participate in this exciting life-saving program. Upon completion of the classroom teaching, all the schools come together for the Water Safety is for YOU! event at the Mulcahy YMCA at Kino Community Center. The children enjoy a day of song, interactive activities and rewards to celebrate their commitment to water safety.

KOHL's CARES® VEST IT UP!

TMC for Children also partners with Kohl’s Cares® Vest It Up! program to offer FREE year round swim lessons at dates, times and locations that meet the needs of busy families. We believe that arming parents and children with water safety education and classes combined with life-saving personal floatation devices, will help keep our children safer in and around water. Lessons include:

1) Free swim lessons at local YMCA locations

2) Free PFD! - US Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Devices for kids completing swim classes

3) Available to kids ages 4 through 17

Register Today...don't wait until summer!

Call TMC's Desert Kids Safety at (520) 324-5604 for class times, registration and more information.

Classes available to the first 375 kids!