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Play it safe in the pool

Pool season is here.

It’s a time for fun and relaxation, but remember: The laughing and screaming of children playing in the water can quickly turn tragic.

There are an average of 390 deaths each year of children younger than age 5 who drown every year in swimming pool or spa accidents across the country, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and more than 3,200 go to a hospital emergency room after a near drowning.

A child can drown in 2 inches of water in under five minutes and never make a sound. Children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates, and fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A pool in the backyard is a great way to beat the heat and allow everyone in the family to have fun. But pool owners need to practice safety to ensure everyone in or near the pool remains safe.

Parents can take children to swim classes at an early age. A child should not have to rely upon noodles or other flotation devices to stay above water. Even with swimming classes, young children should never be left alone unsupervised in a pool.

Pool owners need to have a checklist of safety gear that needs to be near the pool at all times. The list should include a ring buoy and reach pole. A first aid kit and cell phone, with a complete list of emergency contact numbers, also need to be readily available.

Pools should be surrounded by an appropriate fence, and any gates should have a self-closing, self-locking lock when the pool isn’t in use or supervised. A secure cover also is a good idea to keep children from falling in while adults aren’t present.

Visiting children should be closely watched. A curious child can sneak away to look at the pool while parents are busy talking, so check the pool first if a child is missing.

For above-ground pools, steps and ladders to the pool should be secured or removed when the pool is not in use.

A trip to a lake or swimming hole can be just as dangerous, if not more, because young children can vanish in a matter of seconds. Don’t take chances at swimming holes and never dive headfirst into the water.

Adults also need to remember that alcohol and swimming never mix, and keep an eye to the sky for approaching bad weather.

Play in the pool this summer but make sure to play it safe.

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