Vigilance is key to prevention of child drownings

The Rialto Fire Department reacted quickly to a spate of drownings in that city. After three children drowned in separate backyard pool incidents last week, firefighters began visiting the city’s elementary schools Monday to talk to students about water safety.

During the next several weeks, firefighters plan to visit some 127 classes, stressing safety measures and reading books like ‘‘Stewie the Duck Learns to Swim” to youngsters. That’s an excellence response by the department, and one that’s well received by Rialto Unified School District.

Superintendent Edna Herring said, ‘‘The intention is to not only educate our children, but their parents, too. We hope our children will go home and talk to their parents.”

Indeed, parental vigilance is the crux of the matter. The boy who drowned Friday in Rialto was 20 months old, too young to be helped by talks at school. He reached the pool by opening a sliding glass door. The two who drowned earlier in the week were 3 and 5 years old.

On Tuesday in Montclair, a 1-year-old nearly drowned. He was found face down in a pool that was surrounded by a 6-foot fence – but a gate had been left open.

Here are some safety tips provided by the Rialto Fire Department:

• Adults should be present at all times when children are in or near a pool; even a momentary distraction – a ringing telephone or knock at the door – could prove deadly.

• Barriers should surround pools, and gates should be closed.

• Door alarms that sound when a door is opened can help parents keep track of children’s movements.

• Adults and children should take swim lessons; adults should learn CPR.

Living with children and a pool means never letting your guard down.