Arizona Unites to Prevent Child Drownings with Purple Ribbon Campaign
It’s an all-too-familiar headline: a toddler is found in a backyard swimming pool, and loses his life. While it’s shocking and tragic, it isn’t random – child drownings in Arizona follow a predictable pattern. To date this year in the Valley of the Sun, there have been 71 water-related incidents involving children. Of those, 9 were fatal, and approximately 6 non-fatal drowning victims will suffer a lifelong disability.
Drowning risk peaks in the hottest summer months, and humid August days combined with the distractions of back-to-school create a higher-than-average risk for drownings. In the last two years, 8 children drowned in the month of August alone, in the Valley of the Sun.
Child drownings are preventable. That’s why advocates, volunteers, and leaders across Arizona will unite this August, with the Ninth Annual “Drowning Impact Awareness Month” effort. The statewide purple ribbon campaign encourages awareness and action, and is coordinated by Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
This year, the campaign will include:
- More than 40,000 purple ribbons already distributed to supporters statewide.
- Formal proclamations signed by Governor Brewer and Mayors across the state, many presented at local Council meetings.
- Nearly 1,400 purple ribbons tied in the trees in front of Phoenix Children’s Hospital, to represent the number of children involved in water related incidents in the Valley since 2000.
- Banners donated by SRP Safety Connection, hanging in public buildings, Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores, and YMCA facilities.
- Involvement, support and educational events from businesses, schools, and the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona.
EDITORS NOTE: Media are welcome at the Drowning Impact Awareness Month kick-off on Tuesday, July 31st, 9:30 a.m, at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Speakers will include the mother of a child disabled in a water-related incident, and fire engines from multiple cities will be present. The event will be held at the Rosenberg Medical Plaza, located on the south side of the Phoenix Children’s Hospital campus, 2108 East Cambridge Avenue, 85006 (Cambridge is one block south of Thomas just west of State Route 51). MAP.
About Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital, ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals, is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital, providing world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country with 465 licensed beds, Phoenix Children’s provides care across nearly 50 pediatric specialties. The hospital is poised for continued growth in quality patient care, research and medical education. For more information about the hospital, visit www.phoenixchildrens.com.
--30--
Media Contact:
Tiffaney Isaacson
(602) 933-1712(480) 510-0965 Cell
Tisaacson@phoenixchildrens.com
