Summer is the time for fun at the pool and barbecues on the beach for many Californians. Unfortunately, it is also the peak time for drowning accidents.

At least 172 children died across the United States in drowning accidents between the Memorial Day holiday last year and the Labor Day weekend, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. California had the most number of child drownings for the summer with 27 drownings and 15 nonfatal incidents.

Knowing CPR, emptying pools when they’re not in use, and never assuming that there isn’t enough water for a child to drown in, are a few of the ways that parents can protect their children during the summer.

Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital offers a free, monthly Family and Friends CPR program that teaches cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and choking rescue techniques.

The free class is offered on the third Thursday of every month from 7 to 8 p.m. in Henry Mayo’s Human Resources building, conference rooms 4 and 5, 23871 McBean Parkway, Valencia.  Classes are open to anyone who wants to learn CPR but does not need to be certified. Each participant will receive a course participation card upon completion. To register, call 661-253-8888. For more information, please call 661-253-8060.