A tragic incident in west Phoenix has resulted in the death of a 5-year-old boy, who was pulled from a backyard pool on Friday night. According to ABC15, the Phoenix Fire Department responded to a distress call at a home near 99th Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road shortly after 7 p.m. Family members, who had been performing CPR on the young boy, were on the scene.
The boy, identified as Bahazi Dhielo, was rushed to Phoenix Children's Hospital in extremely critical condition. Per a report by 12News, despite the efforts of first responders and hospital staff, Dhielo succumbed to his injuries. Following an inquiry that included discussions with family members and medical professionals, Phoenix police have indicated that there appears to be no foul play involved in the incident. Yet, the investigation by the police remains open, as does an examination by the medical examiner's office.
This drowning marks the 67th water-related incident involving a child in the Valley this year, underscoring a sobering reality faced by communities nationwide. As the 12News report highlights, drowning is the leading cause of non-birth defect-related death for children between the ages of 1 and 4, as per data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In light of these statistics, drowning prevention has emerged as a critical safety concern. The CDC provides guidelines that advocate for basic swimming skills, CPR knowledge, installation of four-sided isolation fences around pools, and the use of life jackets. These steps are simple yet crucial measures that can help prevent such heartbreaking occurrences from repeating in the future.
