With hot temperatures and water sports right around the corner, experts are offering tips on how to stay safe around the pool in Santa Clarita, officials said.

Starting on Memorial Day weekend, most public pools open for the summer and residents begin to throw swim parties at home.

Although pools are a way to stay cool, experts are encouraging pool owners and water enthusiasts to take a few steps to keep themselves and others safe.

A Santa Clarita doctor is also warning parents to keep close watch on their children after getting out of the pool.

Some people may think that children are safe once they get out of the pool and no longer have a risk of drowning, but that is not always the case, according to officials.

Related: Santa Clarita Doctor Warns Residents About Out Of Water Drowning

Although rare, someone can drown several hours after exiting the water, in what is known as a secondary or delayed drowning.

“Delayed drowning is when someone may inhale a small amount of water into their lungs but not be affected by it right away,” said Dr. Bud Lawrence, director of the emergency department at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, in a previous KHTS article.

After water gets inside a pair of lungs, it could attract other bodily fluids to collect in the lungs as well, causing someone to drown, he said.

Delayed drowning could occur within a few minutes of inhaling water, or up to 24 hours afterward.

“Symptoms for delayed drowning may include shortness in breath, coughing, difficulty breathing and (a) child not looking well,” Lawrence said. “If parents notice anything concerning about their child’s respiratory system after swimming, they should call their pediatrician.”

While secondary drowning is rare, Lawrence said, it is still important for parents to know the signs.      

Although some of these tips might not sound like they appeal to all ages and all levels of swimmers, accidents still happen.  

In June of 2002, a 7-year-old girl named Virginia Graeme Baker who had been swimming since the age of 3 died after getting stuck to a spa drain at a party.

Despite being a member of her community swim and diving team, Virginia was unable to pull herself free from the drain in time.

After Virginia’s death, her mother worked tirelessly to advocate for pool and spa safety.

Virginia’s mother, her family and Safe Kids Worldwide actively lobbied Congress to win support for a law to require anti-entrapment drain covers and other safety devices as needed.

Some other tips that water experts from the Red Cross urge parents to do include:   

Never leave a child unattended in or near water;

• Teach children how to swim;
• Teach children to stay away from drains;
• Install proper barriers, covers and alarms on and around your pool and spa;
• Know how to perform CPR on children and adults; and
• Ensure all pools and spas — both in your backyard and any public pool you may visit — have compliant drain covers.

For tips on how to stay safe around the water, click here.

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