BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- While drowning nationwide have decreased, water safety programs have become an integral part of early childhood development, experts say.

Twelve children in the central valley have drowned in 2007, including a 9-month-old girl in southwest Bakersfield in early May, a 2-year-old boy in March in the Westdale neighborhood and Tuesday’s Oildale drowning.

Just a few seconds is all it takes for a child to fall into a pool and suffer serious injury. For parents there are some obvious ways to protect children, which includes constant supervision, a gate around the pool and swim lessons.

At Green Acres Community Center, swim lessons for children of all ages fill up the morning hours and the pool as lifeguards and parents educate children about water safety.

“Lessons, those are the most helpful thing because a child has to know how to swim," said Lifeguard Eric Craig.

Lifeguard Jamie Martin said children in pools need to “keep themselves above water and then get to the wall."

According to the CDC, 3,582 people drowned in the U.S. in 2005. More than one in four of those deaths were children 14 years and younger.

For every child who dies from drowning, another four suffer injury from being beneath the water, which is why it’s so important for parents and children to take precautions.

The recommended age for swim lessons is 3 but there are also lessons for younger swimmers. Experts say swimming is a much needed lesson no matter how much the child may not like it. Megan Logan who is a mother of four, said “It’s just something that you have to go through."

According to the CDC, drowning rates are slowly declining. But that doesn't lessen the danger. It just shows that more people are aware of water danger, so take precautions like swim lessons at an early age.