Garages, construction sites, abandoned buildings, railroad tracks, dumpsters, waterfronts, and unsupervised swimming areas may appeal to a child's sense of curiosity, but they should be strictly off limits. What better way to cool off from scorching summer temperatures than by taking a dip in the pool or a swim at the beach. Pools, oceans and water parks are packed with happy swimmers and waders in the summer, but all have the potential to become a disaster for children if proper supervision and precautions are not provided. Drowning takes the lives of more than 1,000 children ages 14 and under each year, ranking as the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death to children in this age group. For every child that drowns, an additional four are hospitalized for near-drownings.
Young children are more vulnerable to potential hazards of swimming pools.
Children ages 4 and under have the highest drowning death rate, a rate two to three times higher than other age groups, and account for 80 percent of home drownings. Parents and caregivers should always watch while children are playing in or near water, even in shallow wading pools. Children should learn to swim. Enroll children in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors when your child is ready, usually after age 3. Community pools, recreation centers, schools and camps offer child swimming and water safety lessons.