Pool fence program reaches 900th fence milestone
Aug 28, 2012, 2:27 PM | Updated: 2:28 pm
United Phoenix Firefighters reached a milestone for their Adopt-a-Pool-Fence program on Tuesday, just in time for the Labor Day weekend.
According to firefighters, this pool fence represents the lives that have been saved by the program. Started in 2005, the program originally installed 15 pool fences, but has grown to a pool fence being installed every other day, 365 days a year. To date, 900 pool fences have been awarded.
Soila Garcia, who lives near 75th Avenue and Indian School, was the proud homeowner who applied and was awarded the extra security of a pool fence.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen, I’m so happy,” she said.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, drowning is the leading cause of death in Arizona among children on to four years of age.
The Garcia’s have four small children, three of them know how to swim and the fourth will begin classes soon. Garcia said the pool fence is a blessing.
“For us it’s a big help, it’s more security, for them,” she said.
Captain Rich Bauer with United Phoenix Firefighters said taxpayers aren’t footing the bill for this project.
“We’re doing it through grants, fundraisers and going out in the community on our hands and knees begging for money,” he said.
Bauer said it’s worth every penny, putting in the work to secure funding.
“If someone has a pool without a pool fence, they are playing Russian roulette with the child’s life,” he said.
According to childrensafetyzone.com, there have been 43 deaths, including 13 children, in a total of 142 water-related incidents in 2012.
Water-related incidents are reported to the Children’s Safety Zone by various fire departments from across the Valley, usually within 48 hours of their occurrence.