Nationwide, drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death of children and adolescents. Many children are treated each year in hospital emergency rooms as a result of near-drowning. Drowning is a silent killer. When a child drowns, a babysitter won't hear a cry or even a splash. It can happen very quickly.

Ways to Prevent Drowning

Seconds count. In seconds, a child can leave the house and walk to the edge of the pool. In seconds, a child can drown in only a few inches of water. A child can drown in the few seconds taken to answer a telephone in the house.

To help prevent drowning, do the following:

• Never leave a child alone with any body of water (eg, pool, bath tub, spa).
• Do not allow a child to swim alone. You should be within arm's length of infants and toddlers who are swimming. You should know how to swim, be able to rescue someone, and do CPR. The American Heart Association offers CPR classes.
• Remember that even a child who knows how to swim is still at risk for drowning and will need constant supervision.
• Do not allow children to play around the pool.
• Be sure that all gates or doors leading from the house to the pool area are locked.
• If the pool is above ground, remove the ladder to prevent access.
• Empty wading pools and buckets when you are done using them. Also, if you are babysitting small children, keep the lid on the toilet down and the bathroom door closed.
• If you discover a child to be missing, first check the pool, wading pool, spa, or hot tub.
• Know the telephone numbers to call for emergency medical service. In most cases, this is 911.

As a babysitter, you can teach children that safe play can still be fun play!