Water

Safety
Water safety for
everyone 1
Tips for people of all ages to stay safe in
and around water

Swimming is a fun activity and a great way to keep

cool, but it’s important to know how to stay safe in and
around water. Drowning is swift and silent — there
may be little splashing or cries for help.

3
 “Water Safety
Drowning is a leading
cause of death for
children.
Together, we can
change that.”
4
Water safety for children
• Always supervise children in and around
water at all times
• Make sure an adult is within arm’s length
when supervising children in and around
water
• Avoid distractions while supervising children,
even when a lifeguard is present (i.e.,
reading, texting, talking on the phone,
drinking alcohol)
5
• Designate an adult “water watcher” to supervise
children. Being a water watcher means avoiding any
distractions, even for a moment. If in a large group of
adults, create a schedule of water watchers.
• Choose swimming sites that have lifeguards when
possible. A lifeguard is there to enforce rules, scan
the area, and provide rescue intervention, and
should not replace adult supervision.
• Even if your child knows how to swim, always
supervise them when they are in or around water

6
• For children who cannot swim, use a U.S.
Coast Guard-guard approved life jacket.
Don’t use air-filled or foam toys, such as
"water wings," "noodles," or inner-tubes, in
place of life jackets. These toys are not
designed to keep swimmers safe, and can
give children a false sense of ability.
• Teach kids that it is dangerous to play rough
or climb on each other in the water
• Make sure you and your child know how to
swim. 7
Water safety for all
ages
• If you can’t swim or aren’t a strong swimmer,
keep to shallow areas or use a U.S. Coast
Guard-guard approved life jacket.
• Swim with a buddy and never alone, even if you
are a strong swimmer
• Swim in designated areas with a lifeguard
present
• Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life
jacket when in a boat
• Don’t drink alcohol or use drugs before and
while swimming, boating, or supervising children
8
Water safety for all
ages
• Don’t dive or jump into water that is not at least
12 feet deep. Enter the water feet-first and
never dive head-first into a river, lake, or pond.
You can severely injure your head and neck,
and potentially drown.
• Don’t swim during a thunderstorm or when there
is lightning. During lightning storms, seek shelter
away from metal objects, open areas, and large,
lone trees.

9
Water safety for all
ages
• Don’t swim in an area with strong moving
currents in the water. Depth, currents,
underwater debris and water temperature
change constantly in rivers, lakes, and ponds.
• Keep a cellphone nearby and know where you
are in case you need to call for help

10
 What Does It
Mean to Be
Water Competent?

11
Water competency is a way of improving water safety
for yourself and those around you through avoiding
common dangers, developing fundamental water
safety skills to make you safer in and around the
water, and knowing how to prevent and respond to
drowning emergencies. 

12
POOL SAFETY
• When children are done swimming, remove
floats, balls, and other toys from the pool so
that children are not tempted to reach for
them.
• Secure the pool so children cannot get back
in
• Keep rescue equipment (such as a
shepherd's hook or life preserver) and a
phone by the pool in case of an emergency 13
Natural bodies of water (oceans, ponds,
lakes, rivers)
• Know the weather conditions and never swim or
boat in an area with strong moving currents in
the water
• Don’t swim during a thunderstorm or when there
is lightning. During lightning storms, seek shelter
away from metal objects, open areas, and large,
lone trees.
• Make sure everyone wears a US Coast Guard
approved life jacket while in a boat

14