As hot weather sets in, many of us hit the beach or pool to beat the heat. Enjoy the water — but keep water safety in mind, cautions the Canadian Red Cross.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death for children ages one to four in this country. According to the Red Cross, 60 per cent of child drownings happen between June and August.

"Children can drown quickly and quietly, and often in situations where they were not expected to enter the water," says Red Cross spokesperson Rick Caissie in a news release. "One-third of children drown in situations where they enter the water unexpectedly, like by falling from a dock or entering the water without their caregiver's knowledge."

Red Cross research suggests that Canadian parents underestimate kids' risk of drowning in shallow water — but data shows 40 per cent of children drown in water less than a metre deep, and 90 per cent of kids who drown in shallow water aren't supervised by an adult.