Pools, lakes, ponds, and beaches can be exciting opportunities for summer fun and can offer cool relief from hot weather. But water also can be dangerous for children if you don't take the proper precautions. Nearly 1,000 kids die each year by drowning. And most drowning occur in home swimming pools.

The good news is there are plenty of steps you can take to keep your kids safe in the water and make sure that they take the right precautions when they're on their own.

How Can I Keep My Child 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 rain water. Always watch children closely when they're in or near any water.

It's a good idea to learn to swim, and if your child is older than 4 years, have your child learn to swim, too (check the local recreation center for classes taught by qualified instructors). Don't assume, however, that just because your child knows how to swim, your child isn't at risk for drowning. It's important to supervise your children while they are in the water, no matter what their swimming skill levels.

Invest in proper-fitting, Coast Guard-approved flotation devices (life vests) and use them whenever a child is near water. Check the weight and size recommendations on the label, then have your child try it on to make sure it fits snugly. For kids who are younger than 5 years old, choose a vest with a strap between the legs and head support - the collar will keep the child's head up and face out of the water. Inflatable vests and arm devices such as water wings are not effective protection against drowning.

At Home and at the Pool

Water safety precautions start in the home.

The bathroom is full of dangers for a young child. Never leave a young child unattended in the bathroom, especially while bathing - even if the child appears to be well propped in a safety tub or bath ring. Put away all hair dryers and other electrical appliances to avoid the risk of electrocution.

Hot water can also be dangerous, particularly for kids who are younger than the age of 5.
Young children have thinner skin than older kids and adults, which means they burn more easily. Just 3 seconds of exposure to hot tap water that's 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) can give a child a third-degree burn.

You can reduce the risk of scalding by turning the water heater thermostat in your home down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) and by always testing the water with your wrist or elbow before placing your child in the bath.

Outside the home, your awareness can go a long way in preventing accidents. Find out where the water hazards in your neighborhood are. Who has a pool or water spa? Where are the retaining ponds or creeks that may attract children? Make neighbors who have pools aware that you have a young child and ask them to keep their gates locked.

Having a Pool at Home

Having a pool, pond, spa, or hot tub on your property is a tremendous responsibility when it comes to safety issues.

Hot tubs may feel great to adults, but children can become dangerously overheated in them and can even drown - so it's best not to let children use them at all. Having a fence (one that goes directly around the pool or spa) between the water and your house is the best safety investment you can make. This could go a long way toward preventing pool-related drowning.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), fences should meet the following rules:

• Fences should stand at least 4 feet (130 centimeters) high with no foot or handrails for children to climb on.
• The slats should be less than 4 inches (110 millimeters) apart so a child can't get through, or if chain link, should have no opening larger than 1 3/4 inches (50 millimeters).
• Gates should be self-closing and self-latching, and the latch should be out of the child's reach.

There are other devices such as pool covers and alarms that you may purchase, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that they have not proven effective against drowning for very young children. The AAP strongly supports fencing as the best measure of protection.

Making Your Child Water Wise

It's important to teach your children proper pool and spa behavior, and make sure that you take the right precautions, too.

Kids shouldn't run or push around the pool and should never dive in areas that are not marked for diving. If the weather turns bad (especially if there's lightning), they should get out of the pool immediately. Let them know, too, that they should contact the lifeguard or an adult if there's an emergency.

Above all, supervise your children at all times. Don't assume that just because your child took swimming lessons or is using a flotation device such as an inner tube or inflatable raft that there is no drowning risk. If you're at a party, it's especially easy to become distracted, so designate an adult who will be responsible for watching the children. If you leave your child with a babysitter, make sure he or she knows your rules for the pool.

Seconds count when it comes to water emergencies, so it's a good idea to take a cordless phone with you when you are watching your children during water play. A quick-dial feature keyed to 911 or your local emergency center will also save additional seconds. If you receive a call while supervising your children, make your conversation brief to keep from being distracted.

Once you've installed all your safety equipment, review your home for water hazards and plan what to do in an emergency. Learn CPR (other caregivers should learn it, too) and make sure you have safety equipment, such as emergency flotation devices, that are in good shape and are close at hand when boating or swimming. Post emergency numbers on all phones and make sure all caregivers are aware of their locations. After your children are finished playing in the pool for the day, be sure to remove all pool toys and put them away. Children have drowned while trying to retrieve playthings left in the pool.

You should still be concerned about water safety, even after the swim season has passed. Pools with covers are not safe; many children attempt to walk on top of pools during the winter months and may get trapped underneath a pool cover. In addition, icy pools, ponds, and streams are tempting play areas for kids, so keep your pool gates locked and teach your child to stay away from water without your supervision. If you have an above-ground pool, it's a good idea to always lock or remove the ladder when the pool is not in use.

At Lakes, Ponds, or Beaches

First, teach your child never to swim alone. Using the buddy system means there's always someone looking out for you. Make sure your child understands that swimming in a pool is different than swimming in a lake or the ocean - there are different hazards for each. Here are some tips:

At the Lake or Pond

• Don't let your child swim without adult supervision - lakes or ponds may be shallow near the bank and then increase in depth sharply as the child moves further out into the water.
• Ponds and lakes may hide jagged rocks, broken glass, or trash.
• Make sure your child wears foot protection, like aqua socks or water shoes, even while in the water.
• Watch out for weeds and grass that could entangle your child's leg or arm.
• Most boating accidents, particularly among teenagers, are related to alcohol. When you and your family are boating, assign a designated driver who won't drink. Be sure your teen knows about the dangers of alcohol, on and off the water.

At the Beach

Teach your child to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty. Don't swim close to piers or pilings because sudden water movements may cause your child to collide with them.

• Unlike the calm waters of a swimming pool, the beach has special dangers like currents and tides. Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions.
• Don't allow your child to swim in large waves or undertows, and tell him or her never to stand with his or her back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock your child over.
• Teach your child that if he or she is caught in a rip current or undertow, he or she should swim parallel to the shore or should tread water and call for a lifeguard's help.
• The stings of jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-wars can be painful, so tell your child to avoid them in the water and to tell an adult right away if he or she is stung.

Whether at the lake or at the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning.

Water Park Safety

Water parks can be a lot of fun for kids, as long as you keep safety in mind. Before you go, make sure the park is monitored by qualified lifeguards. Once there, read all posted signs before letting your child on any rides (many rides have age, height, weight, or health requirements). Teach your child to follow all rules and directions, such as walking instead of running and always going down the water slide in the right position - feet first and face up. A Coast-Guard approved life jacket is a good idea, too.

Know which rides are appropriate for your child's age and development. For example, wave pools can quickly go from calm to rough, putting even a good swimmer in over his or her head. Younger children can be intimidated by older kids' splashing and roughhousing.

What to Do in an Emergency

Whenever a child is missing, always check the pool first. Survival depends on a quick rescue and restarting breathing as soon as possible.

If you find a child in the water, immediately get the child out while calling out loud for help. Check to ensure the child's air passages are clear. If the child is not breathing, immediately administer CPR as necessary.

If after a minute you cannot get the child to breathe, dial 911 to get help and then continue administering CPR. If your child does start breathing, lie the child on his or her side. (This helps keep the airway open and allows fluids to drain so that the child doesn't choke.) Also, dial the emergency number and follow any instructions that the emergency operators provide.

Water Safety Tips for Babies

Drowning, although the biggest worry, isn't the only concern when babies are exposed to water. Infants are particularly susceptible to diseases that can be transmitted in water. After introducing an infant to a pool, dry the child's ears carefully with a towel or cotton ball to help prevent swimmer's ear (an ear infection that occurs as the result of trapped water in the ear canal). After a dip, it's a good idea to wash your baby with a mild soap and shampoo his or her hair to remove pool chemicals.

Water temperatures below 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Celsius) can cause babies to lose heat quickly, putting them at risk for hypothermia (when body temperature falls below normal). Shivering infants or those whose lips are turning blue should be removed from the water immediately, dried, and kept in a towel.

Infants can also spread disease in a pool. The parasite Cryptosporidium, which normally lives in the gastrointestinal tract and is found in feces, can be released into pools by babies with leaky diapers. When swallowed by other swimmers, the parasite can cause severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and dehydration.

The safest thing to do is to keep your baby out of public pools until the child is toilet taught. If you do decide to take the baby in for a dip, use waterproof diapers only and change the diapers frequently (but not poolside!), washing your child well each time. Keep any child with diarrhea or a gastrointestinal illness out of the pool during the illness and for 2 weeks afterward. Provide frequent bathroom breaks for children who are already toilet taught.

Water play can be a great source of fun and exercise. You'll enjoy the water experience more by knowing and practicing these safety precautions