WASHINGTON, May 31 (UPI) -- Unless U.S. children receive proper water safety and swimming lessons, pools, water parks and bathtubs can be dangerous places, says the American Red Cross.
On average, nine people in the United States drown every day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Despite minority children having less access to a water-related environment, 40 percent of the deaths from drowning are predominantly in African-American and Hispanic communities, according to the Red Cross.
The Red Cross says that there are some 5,000 U.S. drowning and near-drowning accidents each year, but most of these accidents could have been prevented with proper training.
The Red Cross advises that everyone should learn to swim and no one, even adults, should ever swim alone. A child should never be left unattended near water -- not even for a moment -- and basic lifesaving equipment should be near all residential pools, the Red Cross says.
