Drowning remains the leading cause of death in children under the age of four and taking steps to stay water safe can help put an end to these tragic accidents.

To encourage residents to learn the Simple Steps that could Save Lives, the city of Santa Clarita and the Los Angeles County Fire Department will partner on a pair of Sidewalk CPR events on Thursday, June 6.

One event will take place from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., at Central Park (27150 Bouquet Canyon Road). Sidewalk CPR will take place near the Central Park outdoor basketball courts and Field 10. Another will be held at the Westfield Valencia Town Center (24201 West Valencia Boulevard), outdoors near the Apple Store, also from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sidewalk CPR is a community event that takes place on Sidewalk CPR Day, a county-wide initiative to teach residents “hands-only” CPR techniques during National CPR Week. It will take residents just five minutes to learn from local firefighters the steps needed to keep a potential drowning victim, or someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, alive until paramedics arrive.

As the weather warms for the summer and more families spend time in the pool, the City and County remind residents that taking just a few simple steps to ensure water safety can help save a life. Never take your eyes off a child when he or she is near a body of water, and don’t rely on barriers near your pool or spa to keep children out of the water.

“I encourage everyone, especially parents, to take advantage of this free event,” said Assistant Fire Chief Anderson Mackey. “Having the basic knowledge of CPR can allow bystanders to provide that lifesaving bridge between the time of an accident and the arrival of first responders.”

Sidewalk CPR is a free event and no appointment is necessary. Residents will be able to drop in at any time between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to participate. Participants will also receive free safety whistles while supplies last.

For more information about this event, please visit fire.lacounty.gov/sidewalkcpr.

To learn more about water safety, contact LACoFD Community Services Representative Maria Grycan at (661) 250-2710 or visit fire.lacounty.gov/water-safety.