Pools, lakes, ponds, and beaches mean summer fun and cool relief
from hot weather. But water also can be dangerous for kids if
you don't take the proper precautions. Nearly 1,000 kids die
each year by drowning. And most drownings occur in home swimming
pools. It is the second leading cause of accidental death for
people between the ages of 5 and 24. The good news is there are
many ways to keep your kids safe in the water and make sure that
they take the right precautions when they're on their own.
Keeping Kids Safe Kids need constant supervision around water —
whether the water is in a bathtub, a wading pool, an ornamental
fish pond, a swimming pool, a spa, the beach, or a lake. Young
children are especially vulnerable — they can drown in less than
2 inches (6 centimeters) of water. That means drowning can
happen where you'd least expect it — the sink, the toilet bowl,
fountains, buckets, inflatable pools, or small bodies of
standing water around your home, such as ditches filled with
rainwater. Always watch