PULSE GET ALONG SWIMMINGLY.

POOL SAFETY TIPS: With drowning the leading cause of deaths of children 5 and younger in Los Angeles County, it's always good to brush up on swimming and pool safety when the weather heats up.

--Learn to swim and make sure children know how to swim.

--Designate an adult to watch children.

--Consider a home pool safety course from the American Red Cross.

--Never let children swim alone.

--Watch out for the ``dangerous toos'': too tired, too cold, too much sun, too much hard playing.

--Flotation devices should complement adult supervision, not replace it.

In case of emergency:

--Yell for help.

--Get the child out of the pool immediately.

--Call 911.

--Begin CPR if necessary. If no one is trained in CPR, follow the telephone instructions from the dispatcher until help arrives.

Source: American Red Cross, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles City Fire Department

- Daily News

ABCs OF SWIMMING: It's never too early to teach toddlers how to swim. Honey Lanning, a Simi Valley swim instructor whose students include children of celebrities, shows parents the steps that will have their young ones swimming like fish in her video, ``Swimming for Toddlers Ages 1-3.'' According to Lanning, toddlers can start learning how to swim somewhere between 15 and 18 months old. In eight lessons, the video teaches such skills as proper kicking form, learning to grab the pool side and floating on the back. Lanning's video received the 1999 Parents' Choice award. Order the video ($24.95, includes shipping) from her Web site, www.simiswim.com, or by calling [phone].

- Mariko Thompson

ADVANCED STROKES: Swimmers looking for Olympic-style training routines can read free daily workouts from the United States Masters Swimming Web site at www.usms.org. Every week, former USMS Coach of the Year honorees will provide six daily workouts designed to shave times and improve swimming technique. Bonnie Adair, a top age group and national swimmer, and Clay Evans, a two-time Olympian, co-founded the Southern California Aquatic Masters Swimming Club and will contribute their best practices to the L.A. Workout series. Mo Chambers, a coach at Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club in Goleta, has designed the Out of the Box and Into the Pool series. Michael Collins, chairman of the USMS coaches committee, will provide the Swimming Practice With Purpose series. Each program offers yard ranges based on experience: 1,800 for rookies and 3,500 for advanced swimmers. The programs, located in the USMS discussion forum, are accessible to members and nonmembers. USMS is a national organization open to adults 18 and over dedicated to improving fitness through swimming.

- M.T.

STROKE CHECK: Residents can be screened for stroke risks at the Life Line Screening on Wednesday at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 13308 N. Maclay, San Fernando. Life Line Screening offers three types of scans: one for blocked arteries, another for aortic aneurysms and a third for hardened arteries in the legs. Cost is $40 for one screening, $99 for all three, and $125 for three scans plus a bone density screen to assess risk for osteoporosis. Registration is required. Call [phone] to schedule an appointment.

- M.T.

PILATES PUSH: In her new fitness video ``Pilates for Every Body,'' Denise Austin focuses her workout on what she calls the ``girdle of strength.'' Though the girdle as everyday wear has gone the way of armor and chain mail, the image it evokes is apt - a smoothing and firming of the waist, hips and abs. Austin targets these trouble spots in her brisk 45-minute routine. Using a resistance band, Austin takes viewers through a series of ab-busting floor exercises. To work the legs, Austin combines ballet barre and mat-based Pilates moves that require the back of a chair for balance. There's no need for girdles if you do this workout. ``Pilates for Every Body'' (Artisan Entertainment, $14.98) is available at most major retail outlets including Wal-Mart, Kmart and Target.

- M.T.

BABY YOUR FEET: When shopping for maternity clothes, don't forget maternity shoes. During pregnancy, feet ache and swell as weight gain alters a woman's center of gravity. At www.foot.com, expectant mothers can view sandals, shoes, orthotics and seamless socks that will alleviate foot problems brought on by pregnancy. The Web site allows visitors to order products online or to search for a local dealer.

- M.T.

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(1) no caption (man diving)

(2) no caption (Denise Austin)