Follow these guidelines to protect your child from drowning:

	Never leave a child less than 3 years old unattended in a bathtub or wading pool. Toddlers can drown in 2 inches of water.
	Never leave a toddler unattended near a 5-gallon industrial bucket with any water inside. If they peer inside, they may fall in and drown because these large buckets don't tip over easily.
	Never leave children who can't swim well unattended near a swimming pool. More children drown in backyard swimming pools than at beaches or public pools.
	Make sure that neighborhood pools are fenced off and that the gates around them are kept locked.
	Try to arrange swimming lessons for your child before age 8. (Children are often ready to learn to swim by the age of 4 years.)
	Caution children of all ages to check the depth of the water before they dive in and to avoid diving in the shallow end of a pool.
	Caution children not to overbreathe (take repeated deep breaths) before diving in as a way to stay underwater longer. This practice can lead to passing out underwater.
	Caution the accomplished swimmer to continue to swim with a buddy.