The summer seems to be coming particularly early this year and my kids are already heading off to the swim club. With three kids ranging in age from eleven to four, keeping an eye on all of them at the same time is never easy. Of course, if someone would invent one giant flotation device that I could strap around all of them that would help but barring that, vigilance is the name of the game.

Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1-14. And, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for children 1-4 years of age, most of these drownings occurred in residential swimming pools in which the children were last seen in the home, were out of sight for less than five minutes and were in the care of one or both parents at the time.

Here are some tips if you have a swimming pool at your home:

• Secure the entire perimeter of the pool with a fence that is at least four feet high. There should be no direct access from the home. Be sure the entrance leading into the pool is equipped with a self-closing/self-latching gate.

• Keep the area around the pool clear of toys or furniture that your child could climb on to go over the fence.

• Equip your pool with a pool alarm and cover. In 2007 legislation was passed offering incentives to states to pass laws requiring pool alarms, as well as door alarms, pool covers, and self-closing/self-latching gates. So far only California, New York and Connecticut have done so.

• Install alarms on all doors and windows to alert you if your child wanders outside. If your child is out of your sight, check the pool before anywhere else. A person drowning could be silent so don’t assume you would hear your child screaming. It can happen quickly and seconds make the difference.

• Be sure that anyone watching your child knows CPR and First Aid and that their certification is up to date. Keep a cordless phone near the pool at all times.

• Keep in mind that noodles, floaties, water wings and other flotation devices could provide a false sense of security and are not intended to keep a child safe.

• Enroll your kids in swim classes but keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend this as the primary means of drown prevention for children under the age of 4.

Above all, never leave your child unattended in a pool for even a moment. If you have to answer the door or attend to something bring them with you. When it comes to drowning prevention, seconds count!

*Content expressed in Home Security Source does not represent the thoughts and opinions of ADT Security Services, Inc. unless explicitly indicated.