What to do if someone is drowning
Drowning is often silent and can happen quickly. Signs include:
- facing the shore
- treading water
- gasping for air
- mouth at water level
- panicking
- waving of arms
- struggling to call for help
- someone becoming quiet
- trying to roll over on their back
If someone is missing, check the water! If someone is drowning, call 911. Do not try to rescue the person drowning. If you can’t reach the person in the water, throw a flotation device, or use a rope or other object to increase your reach. Once the person is on dry land, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Use an automatic external defibrillator (AED) if available.
General water safety tips
- Learn how to swim. Lessons are available for all ages; there are also adaptive lessons for people with disabilities.
- If you can’t swim or aren’t a strong swimmer, keep to shallow areas or use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Only swim in areas specifically designated for swimming.
- Swim in locations with lifeguards when possible. A lifeguard is there to make sure people practice water safety and, in an event, help rescue people. Even when there’s a lifeguard, you should always have an adult watching any children who are swimming.
- Do not 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. Doing this can lead to injuries, and potential drownings.
- Always swim with a buddy, even if you are a strong swimmer. Swim buddies should keep each other from wandering off alone. Alert a lifeguard or adult of any potential danger. If one buddy leaves the water, the other buddy should follow.
- Be mindful of changing weather conditions like thunderstorms. If you hear thunder or see lightning, exit the water immediately.
Watch the water
- Even if a lifeguard is present, make sure to keep your eyes on the water without getting distracted.
- Designate an adult “water watcher” to supervise children. The water watcher will supervise children without any distractions like reading, texting, talking on the phone, or drinking alcohol.
- While supervising, stay within arm’s length of children who are not strong swimmers.
- Keep a cell phone nearby and know where you are in case you need to call for help.
- Teach children that it is dangerous to play rough or climb on each other in the water.
Wear a lifejacket (also called a Personal Flotation Devices or PFD)
- A lifejacket or personal floatation device (PFD) helps you stay afloat in the water. Small children and anyone who is a weak swimmer or cannot swim should wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket in all bodies of water.
- Always check the label on the life jacket for weight and size limits and to see if the life jacket is a U.S Coast Guard approved. Make sure the buckles and straps are working properly.
- Never 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 or prevent drowning.
Swimming safely in oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds
Swimming in oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds can be a great way to exercise and stay cool. Natural bodies of water may be more dangerous than they look. Be careful while swimming in these bodies of water, since there may be:
- Steep drop-offs that can take you by surprise
- Invisible currents that can sweep you away or tire you out
- Tree limbs, plants, rocks and other obstacles that you can get stuck on
- Cold water that can shock your system and impair your ability to react
- Poor visibility in the water, which can make it hard for you to see where you are and for other people to see you
Water safety for children with disabilities, including autism
Everyone should be able to enjoy swimming safely, including children with disabilities. Water safety is particularly important for children with autism. Drowning is the cause of death for almost 3 in 4 children with autism who wander off alone.
- Caregivers should reinforce water and swimming safety with their children with autism. Consider adaptive swim lessons, including lessons in wet clothes and shoes, which may be important for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who tend to wander.
- Families of children with autism who have home swimming pools should follow guidance for pool owners. They may also consider pool alarms and door alarms
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a family supervision plan for children with ASD and other special needs. Have a checklist of nearby ponds, lakes and pools to search if a child wanders. Download an emergency plan here.
- For additional support, caregivers can contact the Massachusetts chapter of Family Voices, a family-led organization of families of children and youth with special health care needs.
Staying safe while boating
- Stay current with boating safety skills
- Make sure everyone wears a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket
- Know the weather conditions and never swim or boat in an area with strong moving currents in the water
- Never operate a boat while drinking alcohol or using drugs
- Tell a family member or friend your boating trip plan in case of emergency. Tell them who is going on the boat, where you are going, and how long you will be gone
- For more information, visit the National Safe Boating Council
Information for pool owners
Pool owners should make sure their pool is a safe place for swimmers.
- Supervise children in and around the pool at all times.
- When children are done swimming, remove floats, balls, and other toys from the pool so that children are not tempted to reach for them.
- Make sure to secure the pool after use so children cannot get back in.
- Teach everyone in your home how to dial 911 in an emergency
Pools owners can
- Install a four-sided pool fence that completely separates the house and play area of the yard from the pool area.
- Keep children away from pool fences to make sure they don’t climb on them.
- Use a gate that closes and latches by itself whenever it is opened, and make sure the latch is on the pool side of the gate, out of reach of small children.
- Consider additional barriers, such as automatic door locks to limit access or alarms that will notify you if someone enters the pool area.
- Make your pool drains safe. You can install special drain covers or a Safety Vacuum Release System (SVRS) to keep children from getting pulled and trapped into the pool drain.
- Keep rescue equipment, such as a shepherd's hook or life preserver, and a cellphone nearby in case of an emergency.
In Massachusetts, there were 57 unintentional drowning deaths and 86 non-fatal near-drowning cases that required treatment at an acute care hospital in 2022. Summer months continue to be the time of year when most drownings occur. Generally, drowning death rates are higher in July and August, which were noted in 2022; however, in 2021, June had the most drowning deaths. Drownings and near drownings occur at higher rates for people of color, those born outside the US, individuals who identify as male, and children with autism. Learn more about drowning data at: Drowning data and facts.
Additional Resources
Water Safety Infographics
| Language | Word Document | |
|---|---|---|
| English | What's Hiding Under the Surface? | Accessible English |
| Spanish | ¿Qué se esconde debajo de la superficie? | Accessible Spanish |
| Portuguese | O que está se escondendo debaixo da superfície? | Accessible Portuguese |
| Haitian Creole | Kisa k ap Kache Anba Sifas la? | Accessible Haitian Creole |
| Cape Verdean | Kuzé ki ka sta vizivel na superfissi di água? | Accessible Cape Verdean |
| Language | Word Document | |
|---|---|---|
| English | How to beat the heat and stay safe | Accessible English |
| Spanish | Puedes ganarle al calor y mantenerte seguro/a | Accessible Spanish |
| Portuguese | Você pode vencer o calor e permanecer seguro se | Accessible Portuguese |
| Haitian Creole | Ou ka venk chalè a epi rete an sekirite konsa | Accessible Haitian Creole |
| Cape Verdean | Bu pode guenta kalor y fika seguru si bu | Accessible Cape Verdean |
| Language | Word Document | |
|---|---|---|
| English | Combined Water Safety Infographic | Accessible English |
| Spanish | Combined Water Safety Infographic (Spanish) | Accessible Spanish |
| Portuguese | Combined Water Safety Infographic (Portuguese) | Accessible Portuguese |
| Haitian Creole | Combined Water Safety Infographic (Haitian Creole) | Accessible Haitian Creole |
| Cape Verdean | Combined Water Safety Infographic (Cape Verdean) | Accessible Cape Verdean |