Near-Drownings Up This Year: Children¿s Memorial Hospital

Chicago - Experts at Children's Memorial Hospital are concerned about a troubling trend this year: near-drownings have doubled over the average number in a typical year.

Health officials are warning parents not to leave kids unattended near any body of water.

“Children ages 1 to 4 really don't differentiate. To them, the shallow end of a pool is no different from a bathtub. They just want to get in,” said Valerie Cahill, of the Metropolitan YMCA.

Cahill said parents should not rely on floatation devices such as "water wings." She said those devices give parents a false sense of security.