Water wings, kick boards and tubes are fun in the pool, but they aren’t flotation devices and won’t keep your child safe. When you consider that drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among kids up to age 14, and that it takes only two minutes for a child to lose consciousness underwater, you realize how vigilant you must be about water safety.

Here’s how, from Safe Kids Worldwide.

Keep watch. Children drown quietly—they can’t scream under water. Have adults take turns being the “water watcher” giving undivided attention to kids in the pool.

Keep an eye on the kiddie pool, too. A child can drown in just an inch of water, so watch kids even in inflatable pools, and empty portable pools after use.

Teach them to swim. Children should take swimming lessons by age 8. Check with the American Red Cross (redcross.org) for lessons. For more water-safety tips, go here.