The near-drowning of a 2-year-old boy on Saturday should remind Valley residents not to let their guard down around water, even in the fall and winter, fire officials say.

The Glendale toddler was pulled from a backyard pool Saturday and was in critical condition Sunday.

"The drownings can happen in January and December as well as in June and July," said Deputy Chief Elio Pompa of the Glendale Fire Department.

The boy fell into the pool after pushing a stroller out of sight of a baby-sitter. Officials say parents should be just as diligent as they are in the summer, installing fences around pools, learning CPR and constantly watching children. "We should be planning for families and holidays," he said. "This poor family now has to go through this."

Reproduced with permission from: The Arizona Republic By Angelique Soenarie ©Copyright 2007 Arizona Republic