Did you know that drowning is the number one cause of death for kids ages 1-4 and the second for kids ages 5-9?

Many imagine a drowning to take place in an ocean, lake or in the deep end of the swimming pool, but in fact, most happen within six feet of the pool wall when caregivers are not more than a few feet away.

The good news is that these incidents are easily preventable: provided everyone is aware of basic water safety precautions.

Young children are especially at risk; they can drown in less than two inches of water!

That’s why everyone over the age of three should know how to swim. And no matter the age, always swim with a buddy.

But even if a child has taken lessons, they still need adult supervision in the water. In fact, an adult should be within an arm’s reach of infants, toddlers and weak swimmers at all times.

And while they are lots of fun, don’t rely on pool toys such as arm floaties, water wings, noodles, kickboards, inflatable rafts, loungers, inner tubes, etc. for safety. On a similar note, pools with covers or alarms can’t always keep kids out. Only properly designed fences with high self-latching gates have proven effective.

Last but not least, kids shouldn’t run or push around in the pool, and never dive in areas that are not marked for diving. And of course, if the weather turns bad (especially if there’s lighting) everyone should get out of the pool immediately.

This may seem like a lot to remember, but with a little planning ahead, swimming can be a great experience! Parents who don’t know how to swim are recommended to learn how to do so, not only to keep kids safe, but also to enjoy the lifelong mental and health benefits of the water.

Private swim lessons, through Aqua Pro, sponsored by Southern California Aquatics (SCAQ) Swim Club are a great place for kids to start out. They will receive one-on-one instruction with a coach who brings years of swim experience, maturity and patience in our beautiful Mar Vista pool.  See http://swim.net/kidslessons.cfm

Parents who are experienced swimmers, or know even just the basic strokes, are invited to try an organized workout with us! They are held all over the L.A. area, with times to fit every schedule. See http://swim.net/scaq.cfm

Visit us at SWIM.net or call (310) 390-5700.