Water Safety Resources

Free educational materials and information to help keep children safe around water

Every 44 Seconds

A child drowns somewhere in the world

🚨 Drowning Prevention Facts

Leading Cause of Death

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4 years old in the United States.

It Happens Quickly

Drowning can happen in less than 2 minutes and is often silent - children cannot call for help.

Swim Lessons Reduce Risk

Formal swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children ages 1-4.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Water Safety Tips for Parents

Supervision is Key

  • Never leave children unattended near water - not even for a second
  • Assign a "water watcher" who is not distracted by phones or socializing
  • Stay within arm's reach of young children and non-swimmers
  • Learn CPR - it can save a life in an emergency

Pool Safety

  • Install a 4-sided fence around pools with self-closing, self-latching gates
  • Remove toys from the pool when not in use to prevent attraction
  • Keep rescue equipment and a phone poolside
  • Drain inflatable pools after each use
  • Empty buckets and containers that collect water

Swim Lessons

  • Enroll children in age-appropriate survival swim lessons
  • Start as early as 6 months with infant survival swim training
  • Look for nationally certified instructors with survival swim training
  • Practice water safety skills year-round, not just in summer

Beach & Lake Safety

  • Swim only in designated swimming areas with lifeguards
  • Use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for young children
  • Be aware of water conditions, currents, and weather
  • Never swim alone
  • Teach children to never dive into unknown water

🔗 Trusted Water Safety Organizations

National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA)

Leading voice in drowning prevention advocacy, education, and collaboration.

Visit NDPA.org →

United States Swim School Association

Organization dedicated to teaching children to swim and promoting water safety.

Visit USSwimSchools.org →

American Red Cross

Water safety tips, swim lesson resources, and training information.

Visit RedCross.org →

Water Safety USA

Coalition promoting water competency and drowning prevention education.

Visit WaterSafetyUSA.org →

Global Alliance for Drowning Prevention (GADP)

International network working to prevent drowning worldwide.

Visit WHO GADP →

Stop Drowning Now

Foundation dedicated to preventing drowning through education and awareness.

Visit StopDrowningNow.org →

📥 Downloadable Resources

Print and save these free educational materials to help keep your family safe around water.

🏊 Pool Safety Checklist

Essential guidelines to keep children safe around pools, including supervision tips, fencing requirements, and emergency preparedness.

Download PDF →

🏖️ Beach & Lake Safety Guide

Stay safe while enjoying open water with rip current safety, life jacket guidelines, and emergency response information.

Download PDF →

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parent Water Safety Tips

Age-by-age water safety guidelines from infants through teens, including the Water Watcher system and supervision strategies.

Download PDF →

📊 Drowning Prevention Facts

Critical statistics, risk factors, and evidence-based prevention strategies to protect children from drowning.

Download PDF →

🖍️ Water Safety Coloring Sheet

Kid-friendly coloring page with water safety themes, rules, and a water safety pledge for children to color and learn.

Download PDF →

How to save as PDF: Click any link above to open the resource in a new tab, then use your browser's Print function (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P) and select "Save as PDF" as your printer option.

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