State Says Drowning Is A Leading Cause Of Death Among Youngsters

Something to keep in mind as the temperature rises over the next several days and the need to keep cool increases. Many of us will be taking a dip in the pool which is a favorite warm-weather activity obviously.

However, keep an eye on safety. As WWLP/22 News reports, according to the state, drowning is a leading cause of death among young children, both nationally and in Massachusetts. And posing the highest risk to children under five? The backyard pool.

West Springfield Deputy Fire Chief Michael Dickson offers some words of wisdom:

Keep an eye on your kids at all times. If the kids are going to be in the pool, be sure you're on the deck or on the patio with them. Make sure you account for them when they're in and out of the pool.

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Some more tips to help prevent water-related injury and drowning:

• Completely separate the house and play area of the yard from the pool area with a fence
• Make sure that you remove floats, balls, and other toys from the pool after use so that children are not tempted to reach for them
• Keep rescue equipment, such as a life preserver, and a phone near the pool
• For children who cannot swim, use a properly fitted life jacket
• And(a mistake that many people make) never use toys such as "water wings" or "noodles" in place of life jackets. They are not designed to keep swimmers safe

Just a few simple safety tips for use in and around the pool. For more on the story, please check out WWLP's website here.