Safety First On The Fourth: How To Prevent Pool Drowning

Cooling off at the pool with your children this weekend? Be sure to read these pool safety tips, courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, before taking a dip.

Every year the number of pool and spa drownings over the July 4th holiday are traditionally higher than during any other week of the year, according to the CPSC. According to USA Swimming, an average of 26 children younger than 15 have died each year during this holiday week since 2010.

The CPSC reports that close to 300 children under the age of five die annually from drowning in a pool or spa. Children who are most at risk of drowning are between the ages of one and three and African American children between the ages of five and 19, according to the CPSC.

Here are some tips from Inez Tenenbaum, the chairman of the CPSC:

• Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your children closely around all bodies of water. If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first.

• Designate a water watcher to supervise children in the pool or spa. This person should not be reading, texting, using a smartphone or otherwise distracted. Adults can take turns being a Water Watcher.

• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments.

For more tips and information, including suggestions for safely maintaining backyard pools and spas, visit www.poolsafely.gov.