A pool in Mount Vernon was a cool reminder of summer fun, but Thursday it also served as a backdrop for an effort by Westchester County to prevent accidental drowning.

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental deaths among children 14 and under in the country. Westchester County pools haven?t had a drowning since 1991. Parks and Recreation Commissioner Joe Stout credits lifeguard training. However, he says parents can help by knowing the swimming abilities of their kids. Stout recommends that children who aren?t good swimmers wear a Coast Guard-approved personnel flotation device when they come to the pool.

County officials say there are now pool alarms that use sophisticated motion sensors and even sonar to warn parents when a child has accidentally fallen in. They say an alarm will sound on the property and inside the house.

Officials say the message when it comes to pool safety is to provide multiple layers of protection, including posting warnings about kiddie pools and the use of technology and supervision to prevent accidental drowning.Related Information Westchester County Dept. of Health