Now that it’s summer and the weather is heating up, a good way to cool down is to go for a swim! Whether it’s a pool, a lake, or splashing around with your toddler in the bathtub, kids love to engage in water play. However, water is a place where safety must come first. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children between 1 and 4 years old. It’s also the third leading cause of injury-related death among children 19 and under.

Here are a few tips directly from Safe Kids to make sure children are safe around water:

• Never leave a child unattended around water. We know it sounds strict, but there is no room for compromise on this one. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
• Put the cell phone away, forget about all the other things you have to do and give young children 100 percent of your attention when they are near or around water.
• Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children’s reach.
• Keep toilet lids closed and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning. It’s also a good idea to keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed. 
• Parents have a million things to do, but learning CPR should be on the top of the list. It will give you tremendous peace of mind – and the more peace of mind you have as a parent, the better. 

For more information visit: http://www.safekids.org/watersafety.