Pools are a ton of fun, but they’re also very dangerous places for children if they’re not taught how to act and behave around them. We’re month late to the party, but May was National Water Safety Month and now is as good a time as ever to make water safety a priority.

Here are some things you can share with your children to keep them safer in the swimming pool this summer:

Swimming lessons are a must

 Seems like a no brainer – but you should enroll your children in swimming lessons as soon as you can. There are a variety of community pools and wellness centers that will offer lessons in your area – and do so affordably. Some places will even offer lessons to children as young as six years old.

Play out situations with your children

Laying ground rules doesn’t just mean telling your kids what they are. To be truly effective, it’s good to play out some water safety situation so they can better comprehend the message you’re trying to tell them. Showing them what they need to do or what not to do around a pool will make a big difference in how they handle an emergency situation.

Why it’s so important

The facts are a bit dark, but they’re straightforward. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of five and 65% of them drown in a family pool.

Pools are fun. And you’ll make a ton of memories with yours. But safety is the most important thing to take into consideration and making sure that you take the time to be proactive with your kids – in terms of what they can and can’t do – can greatly reduce the risk of anything happening.

Some other things you can do

Make sure your keep all of your pool safety essentials nearby. Keep a fence up around your pool. Make sure no child goes into the pool without floaters or a life jacket. Keep a first aid kit nearby and make sure that when your kids bend or break the rules – that there are repercussions. Having a swimming pool is an enormous privilege, so make sure that shenanigans in and around the pool – means time out and away from it.