June 20, 2005 -- Among all unintentional injuries, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and the number two cause of death for children ages 14 and under. Every year, about 300 toddlers drown in residential swimming pools; overall, more than 800 children ages 14 and under die from drowning, and more than 4,000 go to the emergency room after near-drowning incidents.

"Kids drown quickly and quietly," Emily Lister, Coordinator of the SAFE KIDS U.Va. Children's Hospital Chapter, said. "If you leave a child unattended with access to a pool, you might come back in two minutes and find your child unconscious. If a child is missing, always check the pool first - there's no time to spare."

Even a near-drowning incident can have lifelong consequences. Kids who survive near-drowning may have brain damage; after four to six minutes under water, the damage is usually irreversible.

"The most important precaution is active supervision. Simply being near your child is not necessarily supervising," Lister said. Although 94 percent of parents say they supervise their children while swimming, many acknowledge that they engage in other distracting activities at the same time - for example, talking, eating, reading or taking care of another child.

SAFE KIDS recommends these precautions to keep kids safe during summer swim time:

• If you have a pool, install 5-foot fencing on all sides with self-closing and self-latching gates. Studies estimate that this type of isolation fencing could prevent 50 to 90 percent of childhood drownings in residential pools. Don't leave toys in the pool or beside it. For extra protection, consider a pool alarm, a gate alarm on the fence, alarms on doors and windows in your home, and an automatic pool cover.

• Do enroll your kids in swimming lessons taught by a certified instructor, but don't assume swimming lessons make your child "drownproof." There is no substitute for active supervision.

• Learn infant and child CPR. In less than three hours, you can learn effective interventions that can give a fighting chance to a child whose breathing and heartbeat have stopped. Contact your local hospital, fire department or recreation department for more information.

Keep rescue equipment, a phone and emergency numbers by the pool.

For more information about drowning and water safety, call SAFE KIDS U.Va. Children's Hospital Chapter at (434) 243-5862 or visit www.safekids.org.