Here are just a few safety tips – just skimming the surface – to help keep your kids safe in the pool…

Check your pool and its surroundings for safety. This includes fencing. Make certain your fence is solid and its locks are in working order (and, of course, locked). When you aren’t using your pool, make sure your safety cover is in working order and properly in place. And whatever you do, make sure all of your drains are covered. Pool drains without covers can trap swimmers underwater.

Put your phone down. A child can drown in the seconds it takes to send a seemingly harmless text.

Pool toys should never be solely relied upon for floatation. Items like water wings, pool noodles and inner tubes are not Coast Guard approved.

Make Swimming Lessons a Necessity. While you can’t drown-proof your kid, you can certainly arm children with the knowledge and skill that will keep them safer around water. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, although it can depend on your child’s physical maturity, swimming lessons tend to be the most beneficial up to and through the age of four.

Never let your guard down. If you aren’t watching your child in the pool, make sure another responsible adult is. A child can drown in just inches of water, so this goes for kiddie pools too. Plus, keep in mind that there is always safety in numbers, so the more parents and caregivers that keeping an eye out for the kids, the safer your pool and all the children within it will be.