Drowning usually occurs quickly and silently.  Childhood drowning and near-drowning happen in seconds, often because a child is left unattended or there is a brief lapse in supervision.  The majority of drowning and near-drowning occur in residential swimming pools and in open water sites.  However, children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water and are therefore at risk of drowning in wading pools, bathtubs, buckets, toilets, spas and hot tubs. Devices (such as bathtub seats or water wings) can not be relied upon to keep them afloat and alive.   

San Bernardino County Fire suggests these simple water safety tips:

• Install four-sided isolation fencing at least 5 feet high, equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates, around home swimming pools.
• Pool alarms and pool covers can offer an extra layer of protection. However, do not rely on them to keep your kids safe; they should be used in conjunction with fencing and constant supervision.
• Empty all buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Store them upside-down and out of children’s reach.
• Do not let children dive into water unless the child has learned proper diving techniques, an adult is present and the depth of the water is greater than 9 feet.
• Children with marginal mobility should not be left unattended in a tub or other body of water regardless of age or presumed ability.
• Teach your child to never run, push or jump on others around water.
• Children should learn to swim. Enroll them in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors when they are ready, usually after age 4. If you don’t know how to swim, enroll with your kids!
• Know which of your child’s friends and neighbors have pools. Make sure your child will be supervised by an adult while visiting.
• Adults and kids over age 13 should learn infant and child CPR.
• Keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers by the pool.