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Water Safety

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Interactive WaterWise Water Safety Game

According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission,a swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child under five years of age. A child can drown in less time than it takes to answer the phone. Protect your child from drowning by making sure...

Your Child is Never Alone Near Water

A child can drown in less time than it takes to answer the phone. Regardless of the age of the child, accidents can happen. Make sure even your oldest children swim with buddies, and that there is an adult in supervision. Remember that an infant can drown in a very small amount of water--even a pet's water bowl could be a hazard. Other potential hazards include bathtubs, buckets of water, toilets, wading pools, swimming pools, lakes, ponds, streams, spas, hot tubs, and frozen water.

Your Child is Never Alone Near Water

All children should be taught basic survival skills around water including how to keep afloat, breathing control, basic strokes, and how to guard against accidents in and around the water. Require your children to wear life jackets or vests near a pool if they do not know how to swim. Even if children can swim well, require that life jackets or vests be worn when boating.

Children must obey the safety rules for the areas in which they swim, not run around water, not push or jump on others or splash wildly, remain out of the water during an electrical storm, avoid swimming near platforms and diving boards, not swim in contaminated water, and not dive unless the pool is designed for diving and never dive in lakes or rivers.

Backyard Pools, Hot Tubs, and Spas are Safe

Do not build a swimming pool under a power line leading to your home. Use at least a four foot fence with a lock to isolate your pool. Remove a pool cover completely before allowing swimming to take place. Keep safety flotation devices near the pool, and have a float line dividing the deep and shallow end of your pool. Inspect the water before allowing children to swim. Keep a telephone near the pool for emergencies.

Children with Special Needs are Protected

Be especially alert when a child with special needs is under your supervision. Children with special needs may not understand the rules for water safety. Adaptations may be needed to ensure a child's safety in the water. Consult the child's pediatrician for guidance in this area.

Water Safety Checklist

Practice these guidelines to help the children under your care swim safely:

Know the safe swimming areas for ponds, lakes, and swimming holes you visit.
Never leave a child unsupervised around water.
Teach your child to never swim alone.
Never let your child swim when he is tired or overheated.
Teach your child to swim away from platforms and diving boards.
Require your children to wear life jackets or vests near a pool if they do not know how to swim. Even if children can swim well, require that life jackets or vests be worn when boating.
Teach your children to swim no farther than they would without a flotation device. Inflated tubes or mattresses are not substitutes for swimming ability.
Use at least a four foot fence with a lock to isolate your pool.
Remove a pool cover completely before allowing swimming to take place.
Keep safety flotation devices near the pool.
Have a float line dividing the deep and shallow end of your pool.
Keep a telephone near your pool for emergencies.
If contaminated water is suspected, have the water checked before allowing children to swim in the area.
Do not build a swimming pool under a power line leading to your home.