NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A new study found that a child dies every five days in a portable or plastic pool during the summer months.
Sarah Haverstick works for the Safe Children Program at the Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
She told Nashville's News 2 adult supervision is key in keeping children safe when around any type of swimming pool or body of water.
"For young children, it really only takes about an inch of water which is why things inside your home can be potentially hazardous or dangerous to a small child, it does not take a lot of water and it really only takes a minute," she said.
Haverstick also said she encourages parents to store portable pools properly when they are not being used.
"I think also its improper storage of those items. So if you have a small portable pool, it should be emptied out every time you use it and stored upside down," she advised.
Experts warn parents that a child in trouble in the water will not be able to let anyone know they are in danger.
"You're not going to hear a lot of [commotion]. It's a silent event, so their going to get into water, their head is under water," Haverstick said.
In 2010, Vanderbilt saw five times more drowning cases than in 2009.
Click here for more information on keeping children safe around pools.
