Water Safety: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
Water can be fun for children, but it can also come with serious risks if proper precautions aren’t taken. FACT — Drowning is the LEADING cause of death for children ages 1-4, mainly in residential swimming pools. Even a small amount of water can pose a danger to infants, making water safety an essential topic for all parents and caregivers. Infants can drown in as little as two inches of water, which means everyday items like bathtubs, buckets, or even toilets can become hazards. This guide covers key tips and practices to keep children at any age safe around water.
Why Water Safety Matters for Children at Any Age
Supervision and preventive measures are critical in keeping little ones safe around water. FACT - A swimming pool is 14 times more likely than a motor vehicle to be involved in the death of a child under 5 years old. What’s Your Family’s Water Safety Plan? Every family must have a Water Safety Plan consisting of layers of protection. Seconds Do Matter. The following prevention and safety tips are some of the ways to layer your family with safety against water tragedies. The goal is to put as many barriers/layers, as possible, between your child and the water. Water tragedies have no season!
When Can Babies Start Swimming?
Children can begin learning essential water safety skills, such as floating, as early as six months old. Behavioral science supports this timeline, noting that once a baby reaches six months or achieves developmental milestones like sitting and crawling, their sensory motor systems can retain learned information. This means that if a baby inadvertently finds their way to water, they are more likely to use these skills to save themselves from what could otherwise be a water-related tragedy. Introducing water safety early fosters competence, familiarity and comfort in the water, laying the foundation for future skill development.
How Fast Do You Think Drowning Is?
Drowning is fast and silent. TV and movies make it look like it takes over 5-10 minutes. This is a MYTH. For children under 5 Years, it only takes 30 Seconds. Teens and adults only have 60 seconds. SECONDS MATTER. FACT — In 2024, drownings between April & July marked a 68% increase compared to the same months in each of the previous four years.
Top Water Safety Tips for Children
1.SKILL THE CHILD - Water Safe Skills
All other barriers can break down, including constant supervision. Enroll your child in a swim program that focuses on water safety with survival swim skills (swimming/floating). A swim program that uses real life swim scenarios in conjunction with water safety and survival swim skills will give the child the competence and confidence required to safely enjoy and succeed in the water environment. FACT — Research shows that swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%.
Water Safe Swim Modesto offers private lessons for infants 6 months — 5 years old. One lesson is dedicated to the child wearing clothing to ensure they are able to survive with clothing on should they fall in the water. FACT — 87% of drowning deaths the child is fully clothed. Additionally, I teach advanced swimming lessons (strokes, flip turns, diving, etc) which is great for swim team prep. Feel free to contact me (see below) about water safety lessons.
| 2. Constant Supervision Always assign a responsible ADULT that can swim to supervise any child prior to allowing them to enter the water. Do not give this task to an older sibling as it is too much responsibility for any child, no matter the age. Water Watchers using effective segmented supervision is your best way to always keep a set of eyes on children in the water; however, supervision can break down. FACT — 88% of drowning deaths occur with at least 1 adult present with 23% happening during a family gathering near a pool. TIP — Create a water watcher badge (lanyard) to show who is responsible for watching the kid(s) in the water. |  |
| 3. Check the Water First If you ever cannot find a child, SECONDS MATTER. Check all water first. Then proceed to look other places. Never leave your child alone in or near water, including the bathtub - not even for a second. FACT — 70% of drowning deaths occur during non-swim times. Never assume someone else is watching your child. If you and your spouse are near water (even if you do not plan to swim) delegate supervision to one of you and then switch off. |  |
| 4. CPR Learn to perform CPR on infants, children and adults. Remember to update those skills regularly, usually every two years. I recommend going to Pro CPR — they offer a two-year certification for CPR, AED, & First Aid for infants, children, and adults, all in one class. Click here to resister for one of their classes. |  |
| 5. Safe Pool Environment Every backyard pool, hot tub, pond or lake should be completely fenced. The side of the house, if accessible by window or door, DOES NOT count as a fourth side. Pay special attention to pet doors as children are small enough to get out the pet door. Install high locks with chimes on every door and windows and consider getting a pool alarm. Backyard house cameras with motion sensors are an idea as well. Make sure all applicable windows of your house provide a clear view of the pool so you could easily spot a child who made his way to the pool unattended. Keep the pool water clean. Cloudy or murky water can be a hazard. Water levels should be as close as possible to the top to make grabbing the edge and climbing out easier. Do not leave chairs, ladders or other objects near the pool that would allow a child to climb the fence. |  |
6. Bathing Suit Colors
Wear BRIGHT to stay in SIGHT. Blues, grays, white, and some greens cannot be seen and blend in underwater. Bright colors make it more likely to spot a child who is underwater. FACT —
75% of children who drown are missing from sight for less than five minutes. SECONDS MATTER.
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7. Do NOT Use Floatation Devices for Swimming
When used for swimming, floatation devices lend a false sense of security to you and your child. In addition, the vertical posturing a child develops by using these devices is detrimental to learning true swimming skills that could save their life and in fact is more likely to result in drowning. FACT — Many drowning deaths have evidence that hours prior to the water tragedy the child was seen using a puddle jumper or personal floatation device for swimming.
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Flotation devices are not intended and are not US Coast Guard approved for swimming. They are marketed that way but if you read the fine print, it will always state US Coast Guard approved for CLASS III PFD use). Life Jackets, Puddle Jumpers, water wings, or any kind of floatation device are not designed or made for swimming. Beware of the difference between marketing ploys and the truth of use for quick rescue in open water.
*NOTE: Always follow your local law regarding US Coast Guard approved PFD’s/life jackets on all open water moving vessels including paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, jet skis and rafts. A Class III PFD without the back flap and with a leg strap is the safest life jacket for infants and toddlers.
Final Thoughts
FACT — Drownings are on the rise in the United States showing an OVERALL INCREASE by 28%. By skilling the child, supervising closely, creating a safe environment, and educating yourself and those who care for your children, you can help ensure that water play is safe and enjoyable. Always remember — when it comes to water and children, there’s no such thing as being too cautious. FACT — Many parents who have lost children to fatal and non-fatal drownings say they did not know about water safety programs. Please visit watersafeswim.com to find more resources, videos, safety tips, and locations of Water Safe Swim instructors who are certified to give your child the necessary skills to survive in the water. THE SOONER. THE SAFER.
For More Information
Riley Shultz, Water Safety Instructor — Water Safe Swim Modesto
(209) 627-0413
sources of data: NDPA, CDC, WHO, and AAP.
nationaldrowningstats_2025_Riley Shultz, Water Safe Swim Modesto
Note: This article was not written by Macaroni KID Modesto. Thank you to Riley Shultz from Water Safe Swim Modesto for sharing this important information with our community.
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