Drowning can kill anyone in any place. From the moment you are born to the moment you die, there is always the chance of drowning in places like pools, lakes, canals and bathtubs. It happens to people of all ages, races or sexes.  

That’s why Maricopa Fire and Medical Department is hosting its Water Safety Day at Copper Sky Aquatic Center Saturday, to raise awareness and educate about prevention.  

Joined by Maricopa Police Department and the Maricopa Water Safety Coalition, MFMD crews will host the event at 44345 Martin Luther King Blvd. Interactive booths will give residents the opportunity to learn life-saving tips and how to perform hands-only CPRs.  

The highlight of the event? A simulated rescue drill with lifeguards, fire and police crews including a helicopter landing simulating an emergency air rescue. It will be narrated by police and fire.  

“We’re going to show that the life cycle of an incident looks like from the pre-hospital point of view,” Fire Chief Brad Pitassi told InMaricopa. “The lifeguards are going to do what they need to do to stabilize the incident, and then police and fire are going to show up, then the medical helicopter will come down.” 

That being said, if you see or hear a commotion in the nearby area of the park in the early afternoon on Saturday, don’t panic. 

“You’re going to see a helicopter, you’re going to see fire trucks, you’re going to see police cars. It’s going to be very visible in that area,” Pitassi said. “It’s a positive thing that’s occurring in our community … It’s only a drill.” 

Because drowning “really covers the spectrum of age,” as seen in recent countywide drowning cases, the event is important to help everyone learn the rules of water safety to protect themselves and others.  

“It’s not just a kids problem, it’s not just an elderly problem. It’s an issue that can occur at any time to any demographic,” Pitassi said, noting that the event is “all about education and just positioning people for the greatest amount of success if they’re ever around water.” 

Copper Sky Aquatic Center open swim fees apply. Access is free for members, $2 for children and $4 for adults. 

Just in case something happens between the time you read this story and the water safety event, here are a few tips from MFMD on how to prevent drowning incidents:  

• Barriers or alarms. Since you can’t always keep your eyes on the water, use four-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates, pool safety covers, and alarm systems to help prevent children and unauthorized adults from accessing water without proper supervision. 

• Water competency. Every child and adult should be equipped with the skills to protect themselves in water by learning and enhancing their basic water safety skills to reduce the risk of drowning and aquatic-related injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting swim lessons as early as age 1, you should always speak with your pediatrician before considering any water safety or swimming lessons for children. 

• Life jackets. When used appropriately, life jackets protect you when you are not expecting to be in the water, especially around open water. U.S. Coast Guard tested and approved life jackets should be worn by everyone in or around open water, especially when boating. They should be sized appropriately for the wearer. 

• Emergency preparation. Knowing how to prepare for an emergency with CPR training with rescue breaths, and basic water rescue skills can make the difference between life and death. If you ever encounter a victim who is not breathing, always call 9-1-1 before trying to perform CPR with rescue breaths. Proper training and certification for CPR need to be refreshed about every 1-2 years, especially if there are recent changes in recommendations. 

• Supervision. Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings with close, constant, and capable adult supervision from a designated water watcher or lifeguard anytime children are in or around water. 

Supervision alone cannot prevent drowning from happening, and there are simple ways to improve our water supervision methods, including: 

• Never leave your children unattended without an adult present. 

• Keep children within arm’s reach of a capable adult. 

• Use scanning techniques by using patterns and keeping head counts. 

• Knowing how to identify and predict what a drowning can look like — typically, a victim’s head will be tilted back with their mouth open at the water level.