With the start of summer vacation, it's only natural for kids to head for the coolest spot in the neighborhood. Although a dip in the water refreshes both body and spirit, residential pools are the No. 1 site of childhood drownings.

"It's vital that parents and caregivers exercise caution, especially during this busy drowning season," says Dr. Joan Shook, director of the Texas Children's Hospital Emergency Center and associate professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Shook suggests parents take the following drowning-prevention measures:

• Be sure the pool is enclosed by locked, four-sided isolation fencing and is properly equipped with a pool cover. A phone should be nearby.
• Make sure you and your children learn to swim. By the age of 4, a child should be enrolled in swimming classes.
• Parents should learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
• Make sure a responsible adult is watching children in or near the water at all times.
• Do not let flotation devices take the place of life preservers.
• Make it a rule not to consume food or drink or chew gum or candy while in the water.
• Do not allow diving in shallow or populated areas of the pool.

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