Surprise family among pool fence recipients

West Valley resident Tarry Weatherly is a devoted grandmother with a heart as vast as her bustling home.

Amidst the joyful chaos of caring for her six grandchildren, one of whom navigates life in a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy, Weatherly stands resilient alongside her husband, a disabled veteran, her daughter, and an ailing aunt.

In the midst of life’s whirlwind, their home lacked a crucial safety feature: a pool fence.

Caitlin Sageng, senior program director at Child Crisis Arizona, said drowning remains the leading cause of death of children 1 to 4 years old and remains among the top five causes of death for children ages 5 to 9 years old.

“In response to this urgent need, three years ago, we partnered with SRP and the United Phoenix Firefighters Charities, now known as the 493 Firefighter Foundation, to pioneer the Pool Fence Safety Program,” Sageng said. “Our mission? To equip families like the Weatherly’s with the vital protection they deserve, free of charge.”

This year, Child Crisis Arizona announced the Weatherlys and 10 other Valleywide families — including one in Surprise — are recipients of pool fences. Treniese Sylve and her Surprise family were one of several West Valley families that won a fence, incuding those in Tolleson, Avondale, Peoria and Buckeye.

In the span of two weeks, the fences have found their place in these 11 backyards, providing safety and peace of mind. These households include families where the grandparents serve as primary caregivers, single-parent households, and households where children are in the adoption process.

“SRP is deeply committed to improving water safety for the children and families of our community,” said Rori Minor, SRP community engagement strategist. “As the largest provider of water in the Valley for the past century, continuing our efforts to improve water safety is a top priority not only for us, but also for the one million people we serve. Through our partnership with Child Crisis Arizona, we hope to educate families and provide quality resources to help keep our children safe and comfortable around water.”

In addition to hosting the Pool Fence Safety program, Child Crisis Arizona is also home to Safe Kids Maricopa County, a local chapter of a worldwide organization aiming to prevent childhood injury and death. Through this program, Child Crisis Arizona offers dozens of no-cost, online, and in-person safety courses including their virtual Water Safety Workshop available at childcrisisaz.org.

Fast facts from the Child Crisis Arizona Pool Fence Safety Program for all caregivers:

• A pool fence should surround all sides of the pool and be at least five feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates.
• Make sure that all furniture is on the inside of the pool fence so that children cannot use it to climb over the fence.
• Ensure that the pool gate is always properly latched and closed and that it is not broken.
• Children should not be able to go under, over, or around the pool fence.
• Children can be small enough to fit through a doggie door when parents are not aware. Lock doggie doors so that it creates a barrier between the child and water.



• Never allow a child to sit on or next to a drain. Teach your child not to swim or play near the drain.
• Swim with a partner. Keep young children and weak swimmers within arm’s reach of an adult. Make sure older children swim with a partner every time.

“This year we have already seen a record number of drownings,” said David J. Ramirez, Phoenix firefighter and 493 Foundation program director. “I can’t stress enough how crucial it is to keep an eye on children around any body of water at all times. Not only swimming pools but also small plastic pools and tubs. This paired with safety barriers, and teaching kids early water survival skills are the greatest lines of defense against drownings.”

Together, Child Crisis Arizona, SRP, and 493 Firefighter Foundation are committed to helping solve the community problem of child drownings and to stepping up and leading the mission toward measurable change.

Alison Bailin Batz is director of client service for HMA Pubic Relations.