The Abu Dhabi Police have urged families to follow home swimming pool safety precautions, stressing that most drowning incidents involving children stem from negligence. Kids must always be supervised at swimming areas, they reiterated.

Authorities also reminded parents to set up fences around swimming pools to protect children from drowning.

The warning came after Emirati twin boys drowned in the swimming pool of their neighbour in Khozam area of Ras Al Khaimah on Thursday.

Authorities said the boys' mother had gone to the supermarket, leaving her sons who were then on their bicycles in the garden, under the supervision of the housemaid. When she returned and didn't find the boys home, she called the police and reported her kids missing as the housemaid also didn't know their whereabouts. The police rescue teams later found them in their neighbour's swimming pool.

"Negligence has been reported as the major cause of drowning among children as kids require strict monitoring at home and proper supervision at swimming pools or beaches," police said in a statement.

"But some parents are too negligent as they leave their children alone, playing in homes unattended."

The police added: "Allowing children to use the swimming pools on their own and without being supervised by an adult with swimming skills is very dangerous. Sometimes, children can easily slide on slippery floors near the swimming pools and accidentally fall in the water, leading to drowning incidents."

Police urged all families to always keep an eye on small children and never to leave them alone or unattended.

"Children should not be allowed to swim alone, without an adult present," said a police officer.

"Children must be monitored and supervised at all times, whether they are playing in the swimming pool, in the bathtub, or on the beach.

"Swimming pools at homes should be fenced to prevent children from entering without adult supervision. Doors leading to swimming pools must be locked all the time, and all safety precautions should be taken."

Landlords of residential buildings have also been told to increase the level of supervision in their swimming pool areas.

Guidelines on protecting kids in swimming pools

>Install a fence around the swimming pool area

>Ensure that floor around the pool is not slippery

>Close all the doors leading to the swimming pool

>Never leave the child unattended and watch them at all times

> Provide children with swimming equipment, such as life jackets and arm floats

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