It is summer-time, beach time, sneaking-into-the-neighbor’s-swimming-pool time.

The vast majority of all drowning deaths occur in family/neighborhood swimming pools. Typically, the victim was last seen far from the pool. In seconds, the child, watching others run and happily jump into the pool, has likewise run, jumped, and too late, found at the bottom of the pool.

Obtain permission from parents before allowing children to use your pool. If you’re the parent, make sure you send an adult from your household to watch your child while at another’s pool.

Still, tragedies often occur while one or both parents are in the vicinity. Remember that it does not take too much water to drown a child.

Toddlers can die of drowning when they cannot lift their faces even if submerged in three inches of water.

Drowning is called "The Silent Death" because there is often no cry for help and very little sound from splashing.

Avoid tragedy: 1) Install and maintain an isolation fence that completely separates the swimming pool/spa from the house and play yard. The fence should be a minimum of five feet in height. Children should not be able to climb over it or squeeze through it. Gates should be at least five feet high and be self-closing, and self-latching with latches above a child’s reach. Gates should be open away from the pool, Never leave gates propped open.

If the pool is covered with a thin trapal or plastic, remove the cover completely before using the pool, not partially or half-way, because there is no air under this cover if a swimmer comes up in the covered section of the water.

Equip doors from the house with self-closing, self-latching mechanisms. Doors and windows can also be alarmed to alert family members when opened.

Motion detector alarms are an additional layer of protection, but they are not a reliable first line of defense against child access.

A poolside telephone is an essential part of a safe pool environment. In all situations, even just to answer a ringing phone, designate an adult to supervise a child/children. Many drownings occur when a caretaker leaves a child alone in or near the pool to answer a telephone.

Post CPR, safety instructions, and ambulance emergency numbers, Rescue equipment needs to be in good repair and easily accessible. A life line should be stretched across the pool to separate the shallow from the deep ends.

Always designate one adult to supervise children in or around a body of water, especially during and after parties or other social gatherings.

If a child is missed, look in the water first.

Never consider children to be water-safe despite swimming skills, previous swimming lessons and demonstrated ability to float.

Floaties, swimmies, inflated arm bands and other inflatable toys are not life jackets or substitutes for adult supervision.

Assure a clear view, from the house to the pool or spa, by removing vegetation and other obstacles.

Swimming lessons for proper technique is a must, but not a guarantee against drowning.