Did you know that drowning is the second leading cause of death for children worldwide? Understanding and following sensible rules for child pool safety swimming can help prevent a needless tragedy in your family. You probably already know not to leave your child unattended in the pool, but some of these tips may be less obvious to you.

Swimming Lessons are Key

Babies as young as two or three can learn to swim. Don’t be shy about taking your newborn into the pool with you —they’ll love splish-splashing around and will get used to the feeling of water. “The earlier kids begin lessons the more relaxed they will be in and around water,” explains Tracey Ayton, infant and pre-school swim teacher and program co-coordinator at a fitness center in Sydney, Australia. So get those tots in the water as soon as possible, and sign them up for swim lessons!

Safety Pool Fences

Different areas have different regulations for safety pool fences. Make sure you know the law in your hometown. In general, a safe pool fence needs to be around 4 feet high, with a self-closing, self-latching gate. It should be made from strong and solid materials (no, chicken wire won’t make the grade). But just having a fence in place is not enough to ensure peace of mind. You need to make a habit of keeping the gate shut at all times so your kids can’t wander inside alone. And always keep the area outside the fence clear of any items that an enterprising toddler could climb over, such as chairs or large potted plants.

First Aid

If the unthinkable happens, you may have only minutes in which to save a child’s life. Every adult and older child in your family should attend a good first aid course. You may never need to deliver first aid, but if you do, you’ll be grateful that you have the knowledge. When it comes to child pool safety, swimming skills, no matter how good, should not instill a false sense of confidence. You need to know how to check vital signs, clear the airway, and perform chest compressions.

Child pool safety is not a concept kids and adults automatically “get.” Don’t assume that your pool is perfectly safe, or that your family members know how to respond in case of an emergency. Take the time to inspect your pool thoroughly. Sit down with your family and go over the rules for pool safety together.

The more precautions you take now, the more relaxed you can be in the future, knowing that you’ve done everything possible to ensure your children’s safety in the pool.