With summer approaching, Kern County Public Health is stressing the importance of water safety.
Since 2014, the county has lost 22 children to drowning related accidents with an average of five drownings a year in Kern County. Officials say 18 of those 22 children were younger than six years old.
County officials want parents to "lock, look and learn."
Brynn Carrigan, Assistant Public Health Director says pools should have self-latching gates that lock around all side of the pool. She also says parents should constantly be aware of where their children are in relation to pools and other bodies of water.
Lastly, Carrigan says all children should learn to swim.
"It's important to learn how to swim as young as possible because there are often times you could find yourself in a situation where you fell a little bit more confident that you are in swimming and you can find yourself in a dangerous situation."
Along with "lock, look and learn," County officials say parents should learn "hands-only CPR."
