pool time

with the weather getting warmer and the beaches everywhere filling up its now time to talk about pool safety. i know my niece loves the pool and she would swim every day if we let her. she is five and she has been around pools for a good while now, but at what age do you teach them pool safety. the pool may be something you play in but it is not a play thing. kids need to know how to act around the pool and what to do in case of an emergency. like a friend under water too long or something sinking to the bottom. how do you tell them to be careful and make sure they understand and not scare them to death in the process.