Henderson firefighters promote pool safety

If you live in Henderson and own a swimming pool, don't be surprised if the fire department shows up at your door.

Firefighters in Nevada's second-largest city are going door-to-door as part of an aggressive new campaign to prevent child drowning.

Dan Pentkowski, president of the city's firefighter's union, said department personnel have visited about 5,000 homes so far.

A large team of firefighters and volunteers from the American Red Cross will hit the streets again today to hand out information on pool and spa safety.

Southern Nevada averages eight child drownings a year, Pentkowski said. It is the leading cause of accidental death among children under 4 years old, he said.

"This is a personal thing for firefighters. These are absolutely the most horrific calls to run on," he said.

Pentkowski speaks from experience. The firefighter-paramedic said he nearly quit his job about 10 years ago after an emotional summer that saw numerous drownings.

Pentkowski said the fire department did a similar knock-and-talk awareness campaign some years back.

This time around, firefighters are working off a list produced by the city showing the location of Henderson's roughly 21,000 swimming pools.

City spokeswoman Kathleen Richards said 26 percent of single-family homes in Henderson have a backyard pool.

The city and its fire department have declared May "Pool and Spa Safety Awareness Month."

In addition to going door to door, the firefighter's union produced a public service announcement now airing on local television stations.

"We actually did it at my house," Pentkowski said.

Contact reporter Henry Brean at hbrean@reviewjournal .com or 702-383-0350.