Summer time is fast approaching, which means many school age children will be out and about. And while it can be fun for children to explore the outdoors, it can also be a dangerous situation, especially if a child is near water.

According to the American Red Cross , childhood drowning is a frequent cause of death. In fact, this 2012 American Red Cross piece quotes the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as reporting that 137 children in this country drowned in a swimming pool or spa between Memorial Day and Labor Day this year, and an additional 168 children required emergency treatment for near-drowning incidents.

During this summer season, some children will also attend summer camps. And these camps may offer swimming as an activity. As a parent, you may assume that if a summer camp offers swimming that they have the adequately trained staff to watch your child. Yet, this may not be the situation. Private pool clubs do not have to offer the same pro-active water safety strategies as public pool facilities. For example, a suggested lifeguard to swimmer ratio doesnt mean a private, for-profit organization needs to compl