Red Cross Swimming Safety Tips

The arrival of the Memorial Day holiday means people all over the U.S. will be jumping in with both feet, splashing into pools and other swimming areas.

An American Red Cross survey finds that about half of adults say they've had an experience where they nearly drowned. The Red Cross says on its Website that one in four Americans know someone who has drowned.

And the Consumer Product Safety Commission says nearly 300 children younger than 5 drown in pools and spas each year.

The CPSC Website says about 80% of the drowning fatalities occur in residential settings.

CPSC says pool owners should adopt several layers of protection, including physical barriers to prevent unsupervised access by young children. Reports of children exiting a house via a pet door have been on the rise.

CPSC also has a new Web site - www.PoolSafety.gov.