Summer holidays are fast approaching– within a month our children will have finished school for yet another year! For many of us, at least some of the Xmas school holiday period is spent away from home visiting relatives or catching up with family and friends, and of course enjoying some much needed relaxation amid the celebrations associated with this festive season. In many instances, this holiday period is spent near and around water. However, a festive and fun summer holiday can turn to tragedy in an instant, and parents need to be mindful of the increased probability of childhood drowning when on vacation. The places visited by a family while on holiday are very often unfamiliar, and the excitement of the festive season may in some cases result in the dangers inherent in these places going unnoticed. Parents need to make themselves familiar with all of the aquatic environments - including rivers, lakes, dams, swimming pools and beaches – they are likely to encounter during the family vacation, and they should take the time to identify the potential hazards of each different location....