Making a Splash with Water Safety

School is out but safe water practices are always in! Make your summer more secure by making water safety a priority.

Summer is here and with temps rising, more people are hitting the pool or beach! We believe everyone should enjoy some fun in the sun and believe you can have an even better summer when you have some peace of mind.

In the United States, drowning is the number one cause of death for children between 1-4 years old. It can happen silently, quickly (in as little as 20-60 seconds), and in just a few inches of water. And with the CDC reporting drowning deaths on the rise in 2024, it’s more important than ever to promote water safety awareness.

These stats may sound scary but are not a reason to avoid the water. By developing water competency – a way to improve water safety for yourself and others – you’ll develop skills to promote safety and handle an emergency if needed. Check out some of our water safety tips below to start your journey towards a safer, healthier summer!

Water Safety 101

1. Never leave a child unsupervised around water: It’s important to keep a watchful eye on children (especially new swimmers) when they’re near the water, and to do so without distractions such as phones or wandering away. Accidents can happen in a blink of an eye—even in as little as 1-2 inches of water!

2. Encourage safety and confidence by enrolling children in swim lessons: Learning to swim isn’t just a fun activity for kids; it’s also a key skill to help minimize the risk of a drowning accident! All children develop differently, so determining what age to begin swim lessons may vary.

3. Remember the buddy system: In addition to adult supervision, it is also beneficial to follow the buddy system. Having a swimming buddy helps keep children safer, preventing one another from wandering off and allowing one of them to alert an adult or lifeguard if the other is having trouble.

4. Implement water safety measures at home: Drowning accidents can happen at the pool or around the house. For an extra layer of safety, consider adding safety measures like fencing in pools, emptying kiddy pools or buckets when not in use, and closing lids or doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms.

5. Consider safety specific to your environment: Water safety is important regardless of where you are: at home, the pool, or even beaches and lakes. Some environments require additional safety measures, such as wearing life vests or not allowing children to dive in water less than 9 feet deep.

6. Talk to your child about water safety: Water safety is a team effort! Talking to a child about water safety provides them with an extra layer of security. You should discuss topics such as never swimming alone, entering the water feet-first, and not diving into shallow water.

7. Be prepared for an emergency: While no one wants to imagine their child in distress, it’s important to be ready for an emergency. Learning CPR and basic water rescue skills are two ways to stay prepared and find some peace of mind when your little ones are near the water this summer.