Every year about 43,000 people are injured in and around swimming pools and more than 600 people drown in home or public pools. Half of the pool fatalities occur in the yards of single-family homes.

Here are some pool safety tips you should follow:

• Never leave small children unsupervised–even for a few seconds.
• Put fencing around the pool area to keep people from using the pool without your knowledge.
• Keep children away from pool filters, as the suction force may injure them or prevent them from surfacing.
• Be sure all pool users know how to swim. Learners should be accompanied by a good swimmer.
• Don’t swim alone or allow others to swim alone.
• Check the pool area regularly for glass bottles, toys or other potential accident hazards.
• Keep CD players, radios and other electrical devices away from pools or nearby wet surfaces.
• Don’t allow anyone who has been drinking alcohol to use the pool.
• Stay out of the pool during rain or lightning storms.
• Never dive into an above-ground pool and check the water depth before plunging into an in-ground pool. Keep clear of the area near a diving board.
• Don’t use the pool if you’re tired or have just finished eating.