Pool safety

Drowning is among the leading causes of unintentional injury related deaths for children younger than 14 years old. It also is the leading cause of death for children between 1 and 4 years old.

Never leave your child alone in a pool, not even for one second. When children are in the water, an adult should be within an arms length. Avoid inflatable swim aids (such as water wings) as they give a child a false sense of security. Children are not developmentally ready for swimming lessons until age 4. While swimming lessons do improve swimming ability, they do not decrease the risk of drowning. Even good swimmers need a swimming buddy, so teach your child to never swim alone.