Arizona’s climate lends itself to lots of recreational water use, which means recreational water safety is all the more important. Many dangers are associated with boating and swimming in Arizona, from drowning to skin cancer dangers from sun-exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Drowning is a formidable problem in Arizona because of the large number of swimming pools found here. In 2004, 97 people died in Arizona from accidental drowning and submersion. The highest drowning rate (4.4 out of 100,000) in Arizona is for children ages 0-4. After that, the drowning rate is drastically reduced to 0.9 for ages 5-9, 0.5 for ages 10-14, and then it rises again to 1.9 during the risk-taking years of 15-19 and then to 2.2 for ages 20-24. The drowning rate for all ages is 1.8. The drowning rate in Arizona has always been higher than the national rate, sometimes almost double. The Arizona counties with the most drowning deaths in 2004 were Maricopa, with 71 deaths; Pima, with 12 deaths; Mohave, with 9 deaths; Yuma, with 7 deaths, and Pinal with 5 deaths.1 To help prevent drowning, state fencing requirements around pools have been instituted. Meeting the requirements is an essential contribution to keeping safe pools.
Boating in Arizona has seen an increase of carbon monoxide poisonings and death due to swimming too near the boat’s exhaust, both on powerboats and houseboats.2 Basic carbon monoxide education can help to prevent such tragedies. Some important precautions to follow are: avoid swimming near to or under the swim platform or back of the boat, don’t idle, keep front-hatches open for ventilation, and always wear life-jackets. Another boating danger results from operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol, which is illegal.
Skin cancer is a highly preventable cancer, if people take the right protective measures when dealing with the sun. This is especially important in Arizona, where the temperature allows for lots of time to be spent outside in recreational activities. Arizona ranks second in the world in the incidence of skin cancer Consequently, it is important to know how to protect oneself from the suns’ skin cancer-causing UV light, especially when one is outside swimming, boating, playing sports, or even just running errands. Wearing appropriate sun block, wearing protective clothing, and seeking shade are all essential means of protection from the sun.
Sources: Arizona Health Status and Vital Statistics 2004: http://www.azdhs.gov/plan/report/im/im/im04/9/index.htm, “Silent Killer” Prompts Departments of Health and Environmental Quality to Issue Warning to Boaters: http://www.azdhs.gov/news/2004-all/silentkiller.htm, Office of Environmental Health Frequently Asked Questions
http://www.azdhs.gov/phs/sunwise/faq.htm
