Knowing how to swim is a very good idea. I can remember almost drowning as a child. I was taking swimming lessons and had learned how to jump in the pool but didn't know the difference between the deep end and the shallow end and I jumped into the deep end and I couldn't swim very well and my dad had to save me. We were on vacation and at the motel swimming pool and both my dad and my sister were trying to get to me and I was just bobbing up and down while my mom was screaming get to her get to her. My dad got to me and got me out before I totally went under.

I recommend life jackets for kids when they are around water.

Jbug