CLEVELAND -- Drowning is one of the top killers of children under the age of 4 in the United States and in Cuyahoga County.

WATER SAFETY Swim Safety Pool Health Tips For Parents Pool Cleaning Prevent Electrocutions Sun Safety

Live On Five Investigator Jodi Brooks reported on what parents and children need to know before heading to the pool this summer.

Megan is taking her first set of swimming lessons at age 4, but many of her swimming friends started as early as 6 months old.

"I had no idea," said Karen Wilker, Megan's mother. "I just thought you wanted them to be able to understand. I didn't think until 3, 4 years old to enroll them, but next time I'd go much sooner."

Babies aren't expected to be doing the butterfly. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that children are not developmentally ready to swim until they're 4.

But at a younger age they can learn the feel of the water.

"The children (who) swim twice a week do better than the children who swim once a week," said Ruth Obrochta, a water safety instructor. "Those who swim five days in a row in our summer program retain much longer."

As the outdoor pool is prepped for the summer, last year's swimming skills are likely rusty.

Safety experts advise three layers of protection from drowning: constant supervision, a fence that completely surrounds the pool and CPR training (although CPR works only 7 percent of the time).

For parents who start their children swimming young, they are amazed at the kids' aquatic survival skills.

"(They) learn safety rules and to be able to float, blow bubbles -- the basic rules -- even at an early age," parent Sherri Ripcho said.