27-03-2025
Phoenix family meets with first responders who saved baby's life
The Brief
Weeks after an unconscious baby was pulled from a hot tub in Phoenix, the family was reunited with first responders who saved the baby's life.
The fire department says the quick actions of loved ones and firefighters gave the baby a fighting chance to survive the incident.
PHOENIX - A Phoenix family was reunited with the first responders who saved their baby's life.
What we know
A one-year-old boy was found unconscious and not breathing in a hot tub on March 2 in Phoenix around 11:30 a.m. near 19th Avenue and Greenway Parkway.
When first responders arrived, family members were performing CPR on the child. First responders took over CPR efforts.
"Thanks to the quick action of both the bystander and Phoenix Fire crews, the one-year-old's life had the best chance of survivability despite beingtransported in extremely critical condition to Banner Health Thunderbird Medical Center," the fire department said.
What they're saying
During the March 25 reunion, Phoenix Police Officer Alan Hoelscher said putting himself in the shoes of the baby's family helped fuel his drive to help.
"We all have our own families. We have our loved ones. We put ourselves in that situation where we're thinking, what if that was us, or what is that family going through now, so, to be able to kind of help and help this turn out the way it did, is the best outcome possible," Hoelscher said.
The first responders and the family were reunited in a private meeting before speaking to the media.
At the meeting were also the responding Phoenix Police officers, the 911 dispatcher who took the call, medical personnel who cared for the baby, and pool safety experts.
What you can do
Child Crisis Arizona is offering families an application they can submit to request a pool fence. Click here for that information.
"Child Crisis Arizona in partnership with SRP, State Farm, and the 493 Firefighters Foundation, formerly the United Phoenix Firefighters Charities, is addressing water safety in our community. Together with collaborative efforts, we introduced the Pool Fence Safety Program designed to provide those in need of a pool fence with the opportunity to apply for a free one," Child Crisis Arizona's website says.
Applications are accepted through April 13.
