Parents should always keep an eye on their children when swimming in inflatable pools to avoid possible drowning, the Department of Health (DOH) said. DOH Undersecretary and Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire made the reminder as inflatable pools are popular among families to keep them cool amid the dry season. “Let us prevent drowning. Ito pong mga swimming pool na ito ay maliliit at mabababaw lang pero kung ang mga batang mas maliit diyan or hindi pa talaga marunong na mag swim or maglakad man lang dito sa mga swimming pool na ito, huwag natin pababayaan para wala pong maaaksidente katulad niyan (Although this kind of swimming pool is small and shallow, this may still cause an accident, if the ones using it are small children, particularly those who do not know yet how to swim or walk in it),” said Vergeire in a recent press briefing. Vergeire also reminded parents to regularly change the water in inflatable pools to avoid gastrointestinal and skin diseases. “Maaari po iyan mainom ng inyong mga anak at magkaroon ng sakit sa tyan o mga sakit sa balat ang ating mga anak dahil hindi napapalitan ang tubig (Your children can swallow that and that may cause stomach pain or skin diseases just because the water is not being changed regularly),” she said. The Health official also cautioned the public against chemical products being sold online or in the market that are supposedly being used to keep the pool water clean. “Maaring mas makasama pa sa inyong pamilya at makalason at maaring malason pa ang inyong  anak sa kemikal na nilalagay  sa tubig ng swimming pool (That may cause  harm to your family and your children may be poisoned by the chemical you will be using in the swimming pool),” said Vergeire.