Glendale mayor urges pool safety as temperature rises

Glendale Mayor Jerry P. Weiers

Submitted photo/City of Glendale

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To learn more about aquatics in the city, and to register for different swim and lifeguarding classes, Glendale residents may visit glendaleaz.gov/Explore/Parks-and-Recreation/Aquatics.

OPINION — Glendale residents must stay vigilant around water. Each summer, you see on TV, hear on the radio and read in many stories throughout the news media about tragic events that occur when pools go unmonitored, even for just a few brief seconds.

It’s because of this that I want to share reminders with the community as you get ready to jump into pools to escape this Arizona heat.

As a parent and a grandfather, I have always stressed safety to my family. It only takes a moment for a fun day to turn into a tragic one. I urge all of our residents to be present when your children are around water. We all hope it will never happen to our family, but the truth is that it can.

When adding a pool to your home, there are several safety precautions to keep in mind:

• Install a secure fence with latching gates.
• Use a pool cover and install pool alarms.
• Keep a stocked first-aid kit nearby, along with an AED, if possible.
• Maintain clean and clear water so that swimmers are always visible.
• Never leave children unattended in or near the water, even for a moment.

Glendale Park and Recreation Director John Kennedy reminds us that pool safety is a top priority.

“Our city has two aquatic centers and five splash pads. Every one of our lifeguards train extensively to respond in seconds; but the truth is, a lifeguard or a parent, can’t watch every second, unless they’re paying attention,” he says. “That’s why we encourage families to enroll in swim lessons early and to keep water safety part of every visit to one of our two aquatic centers or five splash pads.”

Jerry P. Weiers has served as Glendale mayor since 2013. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.