APRIL POOLS DAY FOCUSES ON SAFETY.

Byline: Daily News

NEWHALL - The Santa Clarita Swim Club will conduct its fourth annual community April Pools Day event from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. today to bring attention to the accidental deaths related to drowning each year in the U.S.

The event will involve drowning prevention techniques and water safety devices to protect children who don't know how to swim.

Children in California fall victim to drowning at a rate of 14 times greater than in traffic deaths. Drowning is the No. 1 cause of accidental death for children under 5.

``Each time we place our children into our vehicles, we securely buckle them into their seats in an attempt to prevent injury in the event of a tragic situation,'' said Jim Miller, the Santa Clarita Swim Club's educational director. ``Are we always so cautious around pools, spas, fountains, lakes, ponds, bathtubs, sinks, toilets, diaper pails, buckets and other sources which contain water, which children fall victim to each year?

``Children are naturally attracted to water and we must be watchful every second they are around it.''

April Pools Day will feature county emergency vehicles and boats, water safety equipment, CPR demonstrations, hands-on poolside safety techniques and an eye-opening simulated drowning emergency response situation with the assistance of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

An ``everyone wins'' swim meet for children 2 to 12 will take place at 2:45 p.m.

The Santa Clarita Swim Club is at 23955 Calgrove Blvd., Newhall. For information, call [phone].