Just because most of us don’t have a lake in our own backyards, doesn’t mean the risk of drowning doesn’t exist.

Perry Fire Chief Chris Hinds says a child can drown in 30 seconds in two inches or less of water.

“So you don’t want to be tempted to leave your child alone, whether they’re in the bathtub or the pool, even for just a minute.  If the phone rings, or the doorbell rings or whatever, wait to answer that until the child can go with you to answer it.  Or else whoever is calling or whoever is at the door, they’ll call back or they’ll come back if they need to see you bad enough.  It’s not worth leaving that child alone because in just half a minute it could be all over.”

Hinds also recommends making sure you empty out bathtubs, buckets or any container with standing water, or at least lock them away and out of reach of children.  He says kids love to play in water and it’s too easy for an accident to happen.