TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — After a 4-year-old child drowned in a residential pool earlier this month, local lifeguards are emphasizing water safety protocols for both public and private pools. Eden Sprague, a City of Tucson lifeguard, said there must be an eye on the water at all times. She said lifeguards are trained to scan the top, middle and bottom of the pool, along with the corners in 10 seconds.
"Parents should always be by their kids because we are watching the whole pool," she said.
City of Tucson Aquatics Administrator TJ Johnson said parents should buy their kids brightly colored swimsuits.
"If you buy black or blue, it does blend into the bottom of the pool," he said.
At a home pool, Johnson said it's important to have fencing around the pool and to even install an alarm system.
"You could set up an alarm system, and if anything breaks the surface, there will be an alarm inside," he said.
For all ages, Johnson said it's important to learn how to swim.
“Through the month of June, we’re already at fifteen hundred and we have another month left," he said. "So we think we’re going to teach about 3,000 kids how to swim this year.”
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Tina Giuliano is a reporter for KGUN 9. She is a native Arizonan and grew up in Scottsdale. Tina is passionate about storytelling and is excited to work telling Tucson's stories. Share your story ideas and important issues with Tina by emailing tina.giuliano@kgun9.com or by connecting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
