Water Safety Tips for Kids

Going to the pool can be a fun family activity but for children it can also be dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 20 percent of all drowning deaths occur in children younger than 14. For children age 4 and under, drowning is a significant risk. Of all the children in that age range who died from accidental injury, 30 percent died due to drowning. Teaching children water safety tips can keep them from becoming a statistic.

  1. Supervise Children around Pools

    • While teaching a child how to swim is the best way to protect them from drowning, the American Academy of Pediatrics says children under age 4 should never be allowed around water without adult supervision even if they know how to swim. Adults who are supervising should stay alert and avoid distractions such as phone conversations. A child can drown in less than two minutes and often do so without making much sound.

    Teach Children Good Manners Around Water

    • You should lay down some ground rules for good behavior around pools and other bodies of water. For example, your child shouldn't be allowed to run near or around the water. A slip could land them in the water and lead to drowning even if they know how to swim. Pushing other children into the water can also be dangerous, especially if the other child doesn't know how to swim.

    Do Not Swim in Too Deep Water

    • Children who do know how to swim should be taught about the markers on pools so they can tell which depths are appropriate for their level of swimming ability. Parents should make sure young children remain at the shallowest part of the pool. Understanding the markers can also prevent older children from jumping or diving into water that is too shallow for such activities.

    Use a Life Jacket in Open Waters

    • Ninety percent of drowning accidents that occur in open water following boating accidents happened to people who were not wearing life jackets. Children should know to put on a life jacket any time they are on a boat or other water-based recreational vehicle, even if they know how to swim.

    Teach Children to Avoid Fast-Moving Water

    • Children love to play in the water, but they need to know which waters are safe and which are not. Fast-moving waters in canals, rivers or other flash-flood-prone areas can quickly sweep away an unsuspecting child before parents realize it.

    Teach Children Not to Rely Too Much on Flotation Devices

    • Inflatable rafts and other flotation devices can help keep kids afloat, but they should never rely on them. Children can slip out of inner tubes or slip off of rafts. The devices can lose air or be overturned by rowdy swimmers. If the child is relying too much on the flotation device to keep them safe in the water, then these problems could put them at risk for drowning.