Family

The ABCs of water safety

Parents are frequently cautioned about water safety — but accidents still happen, and the statistics in the U.S. are startling: There are 11 deaths each day from drowning, and drowning is the leading cause of death for children between 1 and 4 years old.

"The sad truth is that many times the child slips under water silently, and even people near or in the pool with them have reported hearing nothing during drowning incidents," said Stacey Pecenka, manager of the Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention Program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Read on for water safety advice from our experts.

Swim Safely

Learn your ABCs

A = Adult Supervision

At least one adult should be focused on the pool and close enough to touch the swimmers if necessary.

B = Barriers and Boating Safety

Have a properly working physical barrier such as a fence, pool safety cover and pool alarm. On a boat, wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.

C = Classes

Teach children to swim, but remember, there’s simply no substitute for 100% supervision. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends swimming lessons for children as young as 1.

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