PHOENIX (AZFamily)<\/b> \u2014 Phoenix fire officials are urging parents to focus on water safety after two young children were pulled from Phoenix-area pools over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Phoenix firefighters said that until this past weekend, the city had zero child drownings or water-related deaths this year. With an excessive heat warning and a holiday weekend coming up, first responders said parents should remember that these incidents can happen to any family.<\/p>\n
Two children pulled from pools<\/p>\n
On Friday afternoon, a 4-year-old child was pulled from an apartment complex pool<\/a> in central Phoenix.<\/p>\n A neighbor named Martin said he found the boy in the pool and pulled him out.<\/p>\n \u201cSaw the poor little kid in the pool, you gotta do what you gotta do in that moment,\u201d Martin said.<\/p>\n The boy was under the care of his father, according to Phoenix Police. It is unclear how long he was in the pool before Martin noticed him. The child remains in extremely critical condition.<\/p>\n On Saturday night, a 1-year-old girl was pulled from a pool in Phoenix<\/a>. She later died at the hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were adults, numerous adults home at the time,\u201d Phoenix Fire Capt. Rob McDade said.<\/p>\n Officials urge parents to stay alert<\/p>\n Phoenix fire officials sounded the alarm Tuesday after the back-to-back incidents.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all, our thoughts are with these families; it is unimaginable how they have to go through this,\u201d McDade said.<\/p>\n McDade said there is a common theme after water-related incidents involving children.<\/p>\n \u201cThe overriding theme is, \u2018we did not think this could happen to us,\u2019 \u201d he said.<\/p>\n When pool incidents can become criminal cases<\/p>\n As the incidents are reported, some viewers have asked when parents can face criminal charges after a child is pulled from a pool.<\/p>\n Valley attorney Courtney Sullivan, with Boesen & Snow, said there is no simple answer.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s never going to be a bright line when it comes to situations like this,\u201d Sullivan said.<\/p>\n Sullivan said the standard prosecutors must prove for criminal negligence in accidental drownings is extremely high.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s significant,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cIt is so much more than just not having a pool fence. It\u2019s so much more than turning your back on a child that is known to wander.\u201d<\/p>\n She said factors such as the child\u2019s age, how long the child was left unattended and whether a parent was on drugs or alcohol could all be considered.<\/p>\n Sullivan said jurors may also consider the loss the family is already facing.<\/p>\n \u201cJurors look at a parent who already lost a child and what more are they supposed to do to them, right?\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cThey\u2019ve already gotten the worst sentence they could get.\u201d<\/p>\n Water safety resources<\/p>\n Phoenix Children\u2019s Hospital\u2019s \u201cPlaying it Safe\u201d program <\/a>offers water safety workshops for caregivers, free CPR classes, life jackets and door alarms. <\/p>\n SRP sponsors swim lessons<\/a> across the Valley at multiple locations. They also partner with Child Crisis Arizona for a free pool fence program for income-qualified families<\/a><\/p>\n Swim lessons are available at City of Phoenix pools<\/a> during the summer for all ages and skill levels.<\/p>\n See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it<\/a>.<\/p>\n