Parents need to keep a close eye on their children, especially as they learn to crawl. Never leave a small child alone in a bathroom. Keep bathroom doors closed at all times. Keep toilets closed or use toilet locks to keep small children from falling into them. Parents should not put a swimming pool in their yard until their child is over 5 years of age.
Swimming pools are the number one drowning risk for preschool-age children.
A child can drown in her own backyard pool or spa even while an adult is there. In most cases, though, tragedy happens when a young child wanders away from the house and into the pool without a parent knowing it. A child can easily slip into the water without making a sound or splash. It is not until a parent notices the child missing that she is found in the water. Though swimming lessons are widely available, they are not recommended for children under age 3.