Water Safety & Drowning Prevention

Parenting Resources and Community Outreach

Water is everywhere and taking necessary safety precautions is important at any age, but especially for children up to age 14.

Did you know?

• Drowning is silent and quick. It can occur within 20 seconds.
• Drowning can happen in less than 1-2 inches of water. Filled bathtubs, swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs, buckets of water, and sinks can all be dangerous and deadly.
• Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children ages 1-4, and is the second leading cause of death of children ages 5-14.
• Children with autism are significantly more likely to experience nonfatal and fatal drowning than their typically developing peers.
• Nonfatal drowning can result in brain damage or permanent disability.

Reduce the risk of a child or teen drowning by following these simple water safety strategies in your home and wherever there is water.

Bathroom

• Never leave a baby or toddler unattended in the bathtub, even for a minute.
• Install a toilet lid-locking device and keep bathroom doors closed at all times. You can also install doorknob covers.
• Empty all bathtubs, buckets, or other containers filled with any amount of water or other liquid when not in use.

Pool

• Install 4-sided fencing at least 4 feet high, with self-closing and self-latching gates. Pool alarms and covers can also be installed for safety, but are not substitutes for fencing and adult supervision.
• Remove toys from the pool when the pool is not in use.
• Dump out all water from a wading pool after use.
• Remove any ladders from an above-ground pool when not in use.
• Supervise and stay within an arm’s reach of your child or infant when near a pool or body of water.
• Other caregivers should be comfortable supervising your child in the pool, understand your pool rules, and be trained in basic water rescue skills and CPR.

Other Water Safety Tips

• Teach your child basic swim skills like floating and moving through water.
• All children are different, so ask your pediatrician if your child is ready to start swim lessons.
• Learn CPR and basic water rescue skills.
• Take safety breaks that include hydration, rest, and reapplying sunscreen.
• Know where your family members are when there is water around.
• Never allow anyone to swim alone. Teach children to always ask permission to enter a body of water and to use the buddy system when swimming.
• Supervise your children of all ages, even if there is a lifeguard on duty.
• Inflatable flotation or foam devices such as vests, water wings, rafts, or foam noodles are not a substitute for constant adult supervision and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
• Always be attentive to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who are in or near water. Use “touch supervision”- being close enough to reach the child at all times.