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. It can take as few as 20 seconds to sink below the water and only minutes to drown whether around a pond, lake, river, ocean, or pool. Learn how you can keep your family, especially children, safe and prevent drownings.
Tips
Learn to swim and be prepared for an emergency
- Learn how to swim. 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.
- Swim with a buddy and never alone, even if you’re a strong swimmer.
- Learn CPR. The American Red Cross offers a wide selection of CPR/AED, first aid, lifeguarding, swimming and water safety, caregiving, disaster response and emergency preparedness training. Find information on CPR classes.
- Keep a cellphone nearby and know where you are in case you need to call for help.
Be alert and supervise closely
- Always supervise children in and around water, even if they know how to swim.
- Stay within arm’s length when supervising children who aren’t strong swimmers.
- 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.
- Even if a lifeguard is present, make sure to closely supervise children. A lifeguard is there to enforce rules, scan the area, and provide rescue intervention, and should not replace adult supervision.
- Avoid distractions while supervising children (i.e., reading, texting, talking on the phone, drinking alcohol).
- Teach children that it is dangerous to play rough or climb on each other in the water.
- Keep a cellphone nearby and know where you are in case you need to call for help.
- Know the following signs of drowning, which is faster and quieter than you may think:
- A person is floating on or treading water
- A person is trying swim to safety but unable to move forward
- A person that is struggling to call for help
- A person trying to keep their head above water to breathe
Wear a life jacket
- For children, teens, or adults who cannot swim or are weak swimmers, make sure they wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- 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.
- Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when in a boat.
Swim in safe locations
- Only swim in areas specifically designated for swimming
- Learn how to identify hazards, like rip tides, when swimming in oceans, lakes, rivers, and ponds.
- Avoid swimming in an area with strong moving currents, underwater debris, and water temperatures that could be dangerous.
- Swim in locations with lifeguards when possible. A lifeguard is there to enforce rules, scan the area, and provide rescue intervention, and should not replace adult supervision.
- 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. You can severely injure your head and neck, and potentially drown.
- Do not swim during a thunderstorm or when there is lightning. During lightning storms, seek shelter and stay away from metal objects, open areas, and large trees.
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 |