Summer Safety in Arizona: Protecting Arizona’s Children During the Hottest Months

Arizona summers are known for sunshine, swimming, and outdoor fun, but they also come with serious risks. Each year, children across our state are impacted by preventable drownings and heat-related illnesses, which remain two of the leading causes of injury and death for young children. As temperatures rise, it is critical that families, healthcare providers, and public health professionals come together to help keep Arizona’s children safe.

Water Safety: Watch Closely and Act Quickly

Drowning remains the leading cause of death for Arizona children ages one to four years old and the third leading cause of unintentional injury for children ages five to fourteen years old. For children with special health care needs, the risk of drowning is more than double that of a typically developing child. Drownings can occur anywhere there is water, such as oceans, lakes, rivers, swimming pools, bathtubs, and even small containers like buckets, often involving brief lapses in supervision. Drowning can happen quickly and quietly, with a loss of consciousness occurring within two minutes of submersion. While devastating, these deaths are largely preventable through consistent safety practices, education, and environmental safeguards.

Effective drowning prevention begins with adult supervision and safe environments. Children should never be left unattended around water. Designating an undistracted adult as “Water Watcher” during swim times can be life-saving. Being mindful of bathing suit colors that are easier to see underwater, such as bright and contrasting colors like neon orange, pink, or yellow, can support the water watcher in fulfilling their role. In addition, pools should be enclosed with four-sided barriers featuring self-closing, self-latching gates. Enrolling children in swim lessons and educating on CPR are also critical components of safety.

You can prevent child drownings by following the ABCDs of drowning prevention. 

• A- Adult supervision: Drownings are lightning fast and are often silent. Constant and undistracted supervision is key and you should avoid distractions like reading, cell phone use, and alcohol consumption. 
• B- Barriers: Make sure your pool has effective barriers such as pool fences with self-closing, self-latching gates, and pool covers to prevent children’s unsupervised access to water.
• C- Classes: Swimming lessons for children and water safety education for both children and adults can significantly reduce the risk of drowning. Adults should also consider CPR and first aid training. Check with your local town or city to see about available classes near you. 
• D- Devices: Use life jackets for children who cannot swim when in open water. 

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers can play a vital role in preventing pediatric drownings by offering families evidence-based education on drowning prevention and information regarding pool barrier codes. Public health officials and educational institutions can contribute to the prevention of pediatric drownings by supplying families and youth with valuable resources aimed at reducing such incidents. Arizona residents can assist in preventing pediatric drownings by visiting the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona’s website to gain insights and knowledge on effective prevention strategies.

Preventing Heat-Related Illness: 

 Extreme heat conditions lead to more heat-related illnesses, emergency room visits, and loss of human life. 

Heat-related illness (HRI) affects all age groups and occurs when the body is no longer able to cool itself properly, and can include outcomes such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and even death. In May 2025 alone, 55 children experienced HRI. These incidents frequently occur during outdoor activities or when children are left in parked vehicles, where heat and symptoms can escalate rapidly to dangerous levels. Heat illness prevention begins with strategies such as:

• Look Before You Lock: Prevent hot car deaths by always ensuring children are never left unattended in a vehicle, even for a moment. Make it a routine to check the entire vehicle before locking the doors and walking away. Consider placing a personal item, such as a bag or phone, in the back seat as a visual reminder to check before you lock.
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and hospital providers can play a vital role in preventing HRIs by offering families evidence-based education on heat safety.
• Public health officials and schools can help prevent HRIs by providing families with resources that promote heat safety to families and youth. 
• Arizona residents can help prevent pediatric HRI by visiting the Arizona Department of Health Services Heat Safety Webpage and learning how to prepare for extreme heat.

Summer Safety: Stay Prepared and Cool

As Arizona’s summer temperatures climb, so do the risks to children’s health and safety. Preventing drownings and heat-related illnesses requires a shared commitment from families, healthcare providers, emergency responders, educators, and public health professionals. By staying informed, practicing proven safety strategies, and sharing resources within our communities, we can protect Arizona’s children from the preventable dangers of extreme heat and water-related tragedies. Together, we can ensure summer is both fun and safe for Arizona’s youngest residents.