Tragic End: 1-Year-Old Found Dead in Sedona Pool

The drowning incident was reported Saturday evening at the Village of Oak Creek community in Yavapai County.

SEDONA, Ariz. — A 1-year-old child tragically died after being found unresponsive in a swimming pool at the Village of Oak Creek, just south of Sedona, on Saturday evening.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office reported that the family was inside their home when they noticed the baby was missing. Upon discovering the back door open, the father found the child in their unfenced pool.

First responders arrived and performed emergency procedures, but the child was later pronounced dead at a hospital in Cottonwood.

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children between ages 1-4, other than birth defects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC states that three children die every day from drowning.

Here are some safety tips from the CDC to prevent such tragedies:

Learn essential life-saving skills. Everyone should know basic swimming techniques and CPR.

Install a four-sided isolation fence with self-closing and self-latching gates around backyard pools to restrict children’s access when unsupervised. The fence should separate the pool entirely from the house and play area.

Ensure children wear life jackets near natural water bodies like lakes or oceans, even if they are competent swimmers. Weaker swimmers should use life jackets around pools as well.

Always closely supervise children near any water, including bathtubs. Avoid distractions such as reading, phone use, or consuming alcohol and drugs while surveying children in or near water.