Summer’s here and the heat is on. And nothing’s better than a cool dip in a swimming pool to splash the hot days away. Sadly, drowning has become a leading cause of accidental death of children under 5 years old. Each year more than 300 children under the age of 5 drown in residential swimming pools, often owned by their own family. And thousands more are treated in emergency rooms for pool-related injuries.

Let’s do everything we can to make our pools safe and keep our children’s swimming experiences a happy one:

•    Instruct babysitters and other relatives and guests about your safety rules and ensure that those who refuse to follow are forbidden to use the pool.

•    Remove toys from the pool area when not in use since they can attract young children to the pool area.

•    Never allow children in the pool without active adult supervision. Even children who have had swimming lessons and/or are using flotation devices can be injured and drown. Always appoint a “designated watcher” to protect young children from pool accidents.

•    Keep rescue equipment by the pool and be sure a telephone is poolside with emergency numbers posted nearby.

•    If a child goes missing, you must check the pool first. Every second counts in preventing death or disability.

•    Learn how to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and make sure your babysitters, relatives, and guests should also know CPR.

Here’s to a happy and safe swimming summer!