City Encourages Everyone to Be Safe Around Water as Summer Approaches

With summer right around the corner, the city of Goodyear wants to remind everyone that drowning is fast, silent and 100 percent preventable. This May, in recognition of National Water Safety Month, the city is focusing on simple, practical steps that help keep both kids and adults safe around water.

Simple habits make a big difference, like the following:

• Have strong adult supervision around water. Always designate at least one adult to watch kids in an around the pool.
• Use barriers at home pools. Install a gate around the pool and child-proof safety locks on doors.
• Register for swim lessons and CPR training.
• Adults should model safe behavior by wearing life jackets, avoiding alcohol when swimming or supervising children, and always using the buddy system.

"Drowning is preventable and especially in Arizona, where backyard pools are common, it is critical to take the pool safety serious," said Goodyear Fire Chief Tim Wayne. "Drownings can happen quick and are often silent, so turning your back from the pool, even for a second, can be deadly."

Goodyear families looking to build strong water safety skills can now enroll in swim lessons at the Goodyear Aquatic Center or Loma Linda Pool by visiting goodyearaz.gov/aquatics.