Pool season is here as the warmer weather hits the Valley of the Sun, making pool safety and drowning prevention a priority as May is National Water Safety Month.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the No. 1 cause of death for children 1 to 4 years old, and the second leading cause for children 5 to 14.
Queen Creek Firefighters Association IAFF Local 2260, the Queen Creek Fire and Medical Department, recognized a brave young man last week who stepped up and knew exactly what to do when his brother needed his help in their pool.
Zachary and his younger brother were playing in their Queen Creek pool when his brother fell in. Without thinking, Zach jumped in, grabbed his brother, who could not swim, and pulled him to the edge. He held on to his brother until his parents could come pull them both out of the pool.
The Queen Creek Fire and Medical Department (QCFMD) said to always "remember to please always watch kids around the pool."
During Drowning Impact Awareness Month in April, QCFMD reminded the community about the importance of knowing how to perform CPR. They said it can be the difference between life and death during a drowning, adding a good rule of thumb is to have a CPR cheat sheet posted near your pool in case of an emergency.
QCFMD provides free CPR and pediatric CPR training for the community. To schedule a class, visit QueenCreekAZ.gov/CPR.
