So far this year, 18 children under 12 have drowned in Maricopa County, up from a total of 12 reported in 2023.

Last week alone, two children drowned in separate accidents at short-term rental properties in Phoenix and Scottsdale. Neither home had a fenced pool and inadequate safety measures, raising concerns among safety advocates.

Jay Arthur, president of the Arizona Drowning Prevention Coalition, emphasizes the importance of additional safety measures for facilities with pools.

“If you’re doing an activity in the pool, once you’re in the pool, the door back to the pool area is even more locked and secured,” Arthur said. He advocates installing additional locks on sliding doors and using alarms to alert occupants if children try to access the pool area.

Arthur also highlights common problems with short-term rentals. That said, many renters sign contracts without fully understanding or being aware of important pool safety information.

“We see so many people taking the attitude, “It’s not going to happen to us, it’s going to happen to someone else somewhere else, somewhere we see it or hear it on the news.” “I’m doing it,” Arthur said.

The Drowning Prevention Coalition continues to call for increased awareness and strict implementation of safety protocols.