Sadly Ruby’s sense of caution comes as a direct result of tragedy within her family. Ten years ago her two and a half year old nephew tragically drowned when he wandered out of a friend’s house and was found, just minutes later, floating in the garden paddling pool.

Unfortunately it’s a tragedy that doesn’t surprise Jess Thompson, director of Water Babies, the UK’s largest specialist baby swimming school. ‘A primary factor in cases of fatal drowning is down to the initial shock of falling into the water,’ she explains. ‘Very young children react instantly to sudden and unexpected submersion and are temporarily paralysed with fear.

‘At Water Babies we’re passionate about teaching water safety and confidence. One of our primary goals is to start teaching babies, sometimes as young as two days old, important life saving skills such as turning onto their backs or swimming to the nearest solid object,’ explains Jess. ‘At the very least this would buy a child a few more vital seconds.'

With summer here, the combination of holidays, sunshine, water and children is a seductive but potentially lethal one. On average eight British children drown on holiday each year, with most tragedies happening in hotel swimming pools.

The good news is that, with a bit of caution, there’s lots you can do to avoid tragedy occurring in the water this summer.

* Actively supervise young children when they’re in or near the water: be sure that the person supervising can swim themselves and will happily jump into the water to rescue a struggling child. Don’t ask older siblings to watch younger children. They’re not trained or mature enough to be given such a responsibility.

* Be safety conscious at the poolside: check out the location of rescue equipment and first aid kits. If you’re at a private pool it’s probably worth keying the local emergency phone numbers into your phone at the beginning of the holiday.

* Flotation devices are not life preservers: if you’re using one, ensure it fits the size and age of the child and you’ve adjusted the individual floats accordingly. Without adequate supervision, float rings can easily tip over and trap the child underneath.

* Stay sober near water: drinking can impair your supervision and swimming skills -especially when combined with the mid-day heat.

* Don’t swim at beaches where there are large waves, a powerful undertow or no lifeguards: make sure you know where the beach patrol/lifeguards are and their rescue ability. Learn water symbols and flags used to indicate current conditions of the beach.

* Learn CPR (Cardiopulmonary rescuscitation): seconds count in preventing death or brain damage.

Teach your children these water safety rules:

•        Never swim alone

•        Don’t engage in horseplay - pushing and jumping onto others – that might result in injury

•        Don’t dive into water unless you know how deep it is and you’ve checked for underwater hazards

•        Know what to do in an emergency and where to get help

And finally, teach your child to swim from as early as possible

If you would like more information about classes locally, contact Water Babies on 01295 709221 or visit: www.waterbabies.co.uk

*Names have been changed.