LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — As temperatures rise across southern Nevada, the city of North Las Vegas is teaming up with the Southern Nevada Child Drowning Prevention Coalition and the Silver Mesa Pool to bring awareness to families about water safety.
According to the Southern Nevada Health District, 39 pediatric submersions were reported last year alone, with more than 80 percent involving children ages zero to 4 and 70 percent happening in residential homes.
“We got together and realized the statistics of children who drowned in our community were not acceptable. Our numbers were higher than national numbers,” said Greg Blackburn, chairman of the Southern Nevada Child Drowning Prevention Coalition.
Silent danger
Drowning is often silent, unlike depictions in movies where children are loud and flailing their arms. In Nevada, there have been drownings with parents being within 10 feet of their child.
“Don’t assume someone else is watching your child,” Blackburn said.
North Las Vegas Councilwoman Ruth Garcia Anderson said with summer approaching, the message is more important than ever, especially in communities most impacted.
“The statistics, the numbers are showing, our numbers show that within the Latino and the African-American community, numbers are higher when it comes to child drownings,” Garcia Anderson said.
“It’s time for barbecues, carne asadas with our family. And so sometimes, you know, the last thing we want to do is, you know, be out in the sun, you know, watching our kids. But it’s the first thing we should be doing,” she said.
The city of North Las Vegas will be offering low-cost swimming lessons for children, with scholarship opportunities available to low-income families.
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