Hotter temps call for safety around water.

The death and near-drowning of two Santa Clarita toddlers serve as a reminder that pool safety is everyone's responsibility. With hot summer temperatures arriving early, a lot of people are spending their days by the water, whether at a community pool or in their backyard with family and friends.  

While trying to stay cool, it’s important to also pay attention to safety and the importance of supervising children in the water.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, every year:

• 260 children under the age of 5 drown in residential pools and spas.
• 3,000 children under the age of 5 are treated in hospital emergency rooms following submersion accidents, some of which lead to brain damage.
• In California, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death of children under the age of 5.

On Saturday, 3-year-old girl Irene Shin Choi drowned in a community pool in Tesoro del Valle. Sunday afternoon, a 2-year old boy fell into a pool on Vista Encantada Drive in Valencia. The young boy was air lifted to Children’s Hospital for treatment. Both incidents occurred with adults nearby.

The American Red Cross has a list of recommendations for safe swimming, which include having children use flotation devices, keeping furniture or toys away from pool edges and being careful of swimmers with “toos” – too tired, too much sun, too cold. A complete list is available at http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/healthtips/safetywater.html

In addition, the Santa Clarita Sheriff's Station offers some overall summer safety advice here: http://incident.scvsheriff.com/