Readers might recognize the lyrics from the Cold War song by Sting from the 1980s. However, I actually hope that Americans love their children. Let me explain. First, look at the following eight pictures from inspections of mine and try to determine what they all have in common:

Other than vegetation, did you find anything similar? Hopefully you did.

The common theme in the pictures is water. Everyone loves water, which is why the beach and ocean view homes here sell for millions of dollars. Here's where our children enter the picture. Children are naturally attracted to water, and if it's moving or bubbling, even more so. There are countless stories, though, of children drowning in pools and ponds, or trying to climb up on water fountains to get to the moving water and pulling the fountain over on them, crushing them to death.

If you or someone you know has a pool, pond, or water fountain, make sure that the pool and pond are protected from inquisitive children, and make sure the fountains and fountain sections are secured to each other and to the ground so that they cannot be pulled over by children climbing on them. For example, to keep the neighbor's children out, make sure that there is a fence and self-locking gates around your yard if it has a pool, spa, or ponds. If there are children in your own family, make sure that there are audible alarms that let you know when the door to the pool area has been opened, or is open. And don't ever swim alone or let anyone else swim alone. It only takes a minute for young lungs to fill up with water and drown a child.

There are many other safeguards that should be in place; ask your local pool maintenance store what requirements exist for your area, but don't take the minimalist approach. Go all the way to protect your children and our nation's children. A young life unnecessarily lost to an accidental drowning that could have easily been prevented is truly sad and disheartening.