Water safety for kids: A parent's guide to preventing drowning at home, pools and open water

Why water safety matters

• Young children are at higher risk. Kids ages 1–4 are more likely to drown, and drowning is one of the top causes of accidental death for kids.
• Water can be dangerous almost anywhere—on vacation, in the bathtub, in the backyard, or at a friend’s house.
• The best way to prevent accidents is to follow water safety tips.

How to supervise children around water

Active, undistracted supervision is important because adult supervision saves lives. Choose an adult to watch children in or near water—at the pool, lake, beach, splash pad or even around inflatable pools. Adults responsible for watching children should consider learning CPR in case of emergencies and always enforce simple safety rules.

The “Water Watcher” method

Supervision still matters even if kids can swim, are wearing floatation devices or lifeguards are present. A “water watcher” is someone who stays close and keeps constant eyes on the water.

What active "water watcher" supervision looks like:

• Within arm’s reach: Stay close enough to reach kids quickly.
• No distractions: Put phones away and avoid other distractions while supervising children.
• Take turns: When there are many adults present, take turns supervising.

Prepare for emergencies—learn CPR

In a water emergency, CPR can save lives in the time before help arrives. CPR training for adults who have children or supervise them is recommended. Consider taking a refresher before swimming, or before a vacation and lake weekend.

Teach and repeat simple water rules

Kids do better with clear expectations. Review important rules with kids, such as:

• Always swim with a buddy and keep track of them
• Know where the deep end is
• Know who the supervising adult is if someone needs help

Barriers save lives, especially at home

Many drowning accidents happen when a child finds water unexpectedly, such as at home. Homes can include water hazards like pools, bathtubs, buckets and even toilets.

Pool barrier essentials

• Pool fences: Install fencing that is at least 4 feet high and surrounds the pool (separate it from the house and play area).
• Keep gates locked: When the pool isn’t in use, keep gates locked.
• Self-latching gates: Use self-closing, self-latching gates, with latches out of children’s reach.
• Remove toys: Remove toys that may attract kids when the pool isn't in use
• Add alarms: Consider adding alarms for extra safety measures.

Don't forget "sneaky hazards"

Children are also at risk of drowning in water on top of pool covers. So even pools with safety covers should have fencing or other ways to remove accumulated rainwater.

For everyday home safety, it is important to dump small pools after use, use childproof locks where necessary, and never leave children unattended in bathtubs.

Choose life jackets over floaties

U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets are the safest choice for children on boats or docks, and even for weaker swimmers.

For babies, choose a life vest designed with head and neck support and a strap between the legs to help keep their head above water.

Alongside a life jacket, a bright, colored swimsuit can also help parents see their child in the water.

Avoid false confidence from flotation toys. Do not rely solely on flotation toys like arm floaties or puddle jumpers to keep a child safe from drowning. Even with a life jacket, a child still needs constant, close supervision.

Swim lessons for drowning prevention

Swim lessons can be helpful, even for very young children, when taught safely and with close supervision. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends swim lessons for many children around age 1, depending on developmental readiness.

Choose instructors and programs with:

• CPR-certified trainers
• A strong student-to-instructor ratio
• A format that matches your child’s needs (for example, private lessons if your child has anxiety around water or groups)

Pool, lake or ocean? Consider the setting

Pool safety

At pools, watch for slips, avoid diving headfirst and be careful around drains.

Wet pool decks are slippery and can lead to falls.

Diving headfirst into water can also lead to head trauma. Seek medical attention for head injuries that may include symptoms such as vomiting, loss of consciousness, significant bleeding, or confusion.

Watch out for drains or suction outlets in spas and shallow pools. They can be dangerous if the cover is loose, broken or missing.

Ocean and lake safety

Lakes and oceans differ from pools because open water is unpredictable. You'll encounter different types of waves and changing water conditions. Because of these hazards, life vests are important for kids in open water, and children and adults should never swim alone.

In open bodies of water, don’t overlook cold water and fatigue. Body temperatures can drop quickly in kids. If you see shivering, get them out of the water and warm them up.

Even strong swimmers are at risk when they become tired, experience a head injury or encounter strong currents (which is another reason why constant supervision matters).

A quick “Water Safety Checklist”

Use this as a pre-swim routine:

• Assign a “Water Watcher”
• Keep young kids within arm’s reach
• Use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets
• Enroll in swim lessons when developmentally ready
• Review simple water rules with kids
• Learn CPR and keep a phone nearby for emergencies

For life-threatening emergencies, call 911. If your child needs emergency care, you can find 24/7 emergency medicine services at one of our three Riley emergency locations. Our emergency department in downtown Indianapolis is also home to Indiana’s longest-standing Level I Pediatric Trauma Center.