(HealthDay News) -- The inviting blue waves of a swimming pool can be deadly for a curious youngster.

Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4, the American Academy of Pediatrics says, citing U.S. government statistics.

The academy offers these pool-fencing suggestions:

• The fence should be at least four feet high and completely surround the pool, separating it from the house and the rest of the yard.
• Avoid keeping lawn furniture or other objects near the fence that a child could use to climb over.
• Vertical slats should be no more than four inches apart, to prevent a small child from squeezing through them.
• The fence should have a self-closing gate that only opens out, away from the pool area. The latch should be out of a child's reach -- at least 54 inches from the ground.
• When the pool is not in use, make sure the gate is locked.
• Don't depend on the fence alone; install a pool alarm. A child can drown within seconds, with barely a splash. A pool alarm can detect waves and sound off to attract attention when someone has fallen into the pool.