More Chicago-area pools have met state and federal requirements for safer pool drains and are allowed to open. After a year-long effort sparked by the drowning deaths of children who were trapped underwater by the suction from drains, most pools in Illinois are winning regulatory permission to reopen with new drainage systems — just in time for summer, too.

Last year, the federal government recalled 1 million pool and spa drain covers following a Chicago Tribune investigation. On Oct. 1, Illinois shut down 563 pools considered out of compliance with its version of the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Act, which was named for a 7-year-old girl who drowned after becoming trapped underwater by a spa drain’s suction.

Some 26 pools that still needed repairs when the article was published are expected to be open by now. “But throughout the Chicago area, many private apartment and condominium pools remain closed,” the newspaper story said.

We are pleased to see this compliance but are distressed to learn of a child’s drowning death that wasn’t about drains but instead focused on campers’ safety at park pools. It happened at a pool supervised by lifeguards and child care workers. Public safety officials continue to investigate the death of a 4-year-old child, who was one of 19 children on a trip to Roosevelt Pool in Glenview with Wesley Child Care Center. Lifeguards administered CPR before the child was taken to Glenbrook Hospital.

As fire and police officials investigate the incident, the Chicago Tribune reported on June 19 that park district officials “have banned summer camp groups from the three district pools for this week while the agency reviews its policies on the many camp groups that visit regularly.”

Our advice to parents is to be vigilant. That means confirming that there are the required number of well-trained lifeguards on hand when your child is in a pool. And if your offspring are in daycare or camp, learn their procedures for supervising them while at swimming pools.

And, of course, teach your children to swim. YMCA’s and park districts typically offer classes for toddlers. That’s not too early to get the kids in the water and hopefully prevent these types of tragedies.