Phoenix, Ariz. – March 15, 2017 (Updated July 18, 2018) – With the weather starting to warm up, kids are spending more time outdoors, particularly around pools. For this reason, FastMed, the nation’s fastest-growing urgent care provider, is partnering with the national “Pool Safely” Program to educate kids and their parents about safe pool practices. As part of the program, free educational classes are being offered at local daycare centers, schools, after-school programs, city events, youth camps, and other organizations throughout Arizona.
“Drowning is the number-one cause of unintentional deaths among children ages 1 through 4,” emphasized Stacey R. Gouzenne, MD, FACEP, National Chief Medical Officer for FastMed Urgent Care. “This is an alarming number, and Arizona has an especially high rate. Our goal is to bring these numbers down by keeping kids safe around water.”
The Pool Safely Program focuses on four simple steps for kids:
- Learn how to swim
- Don’t climb over pool gates
- Stay away from pool drains
- Always ask an adult before entering the water
The parent component of the Pool Safely Program teaches the importance of always designating an official “Water Watcher.” This should be a responsible adult who will focus solely on the kids’ safety during their time in and around the water. That means no texting, reading, or playing games on smartphones when kids are in the pool or pool area. Water Watchers should keep their phones handy, however, in case a call for help is needed. Other safety points include looking in the water first anytime a child goes missing, and updating rusty CPR skills.
The FastMed program is free for organizations within a three-mile radius of any Arizona FastMed clinic, complete with a visit from FastMed Fred, the urgent care’s official mascot.
If you’d like to schedule a free FastMed pool safety presentation program at your school or organization, contact Liana Salazar (lsalazar@fastmed.com) for East Valley and Tucson, or Kelly Sauerbrei (k.sauerlbrei@fastmed.com) for Phoenix and West Valley. Bookings are available on a first come, first served basis.
About FastMed
FastMed Urgent Care owns and operates nearly 200 centers in North Carolina, Arizona and Texas that provide a broad range of acute/episodic and preventive healthcare services 365 days a year. FastMed also provides workers’ compensation and other occupational health services at all its centers, and family and sports medicine services at select locations. FastMed has successfully treated more than six million patients and is the only independent urgent care operator in North Carolina, Arizona and Texas to be awarded The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for quality, safety and infection control in ambulatory healthcare. For more information about locations, services, hours of operation, insurance and prices, visit www.fastmed.com.