Recent drownings in the Bay area have prompted safety experts to issue reminders and tips when it comes to the water.
Two children drowned in a Lakeland swimming pool, another child at a pool in Gibsonton apartment complex, and a fourth child nearly drowned in Brooksville
“Unintentional injuries, accidental injuries are preventable. We can prevent those things,” said Jean Schumacher with the Safe Kids Coalition.
One way to do that while at the pool is to assign someone to be in charge of watching the kids—and have them wear a 'Child Watcher’ badge.
"Which reminds them that their job is to watch the children and only watch the children. You don't want to be on your cell phone, you don't want to be talking to other moms and dads or people by the pool or reading a magazine. Your eyes need to be on the children," said Schumacher.
Tampa YMCAs are also offering free door alarms this swim season.
"As quick as going in the laundry room and putting in a load of laundry a child can go out the back door and fall in to a pool and you wouldn’t even hear them. So the alarm is very important,” said Julie Hughes, Aquatic Director at a YMCA in South Tampa.
They also recommend swim lessons even at an early age. Tampa resident Jennifer Jackson is having her daughter learn how to keep her head above water.
"She is going to know how to, if she falls in the water, to get herself to float, and hold that until hopefully someone can come and get her,” said Jackson.
Jackson and other parents are doing everything they can to prepare their kids if one day, the worst were to happen.
May is "national drowning prevention" month. If you'd like a free child watcher badge – you can go to the Safe Kids website.
There’s also an event at Fossil Park in Saint Petersburg from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 17th. More information is also available by calling Safe Kids Coalition at All Children’s Hospital at 1-800-756-7233.