Water Safety
CDC Top Ten Tips
- Do learn to swim. If you like to have a good time doing water activities, being a strong swimmer is a must.
- Do take a friend along. Even though you may be a good swimmer, you never know when you may need help. Having a friend around is safer and just more fun!
- Do know your limits. Watch out for the “too’s” – too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much hard activity.
- Do swim in supervised areas only, and follow all signs and warnings.
- Do wear a life jacket when boating, jet skiing, water skiing, rafting, or fishing.
- Do stay alert to currents. They can change quickly!
- Do keep an eye on the weather. If you spot bad weather (dark clouds, lightning), pack up and take the fun inside.
- Don’t mess around in the water. Pushing or dunking your friends can easily get out of hand.
- Don’t dive into shallow water. If you don’t know how deep the water is, don’t dive.
- Don’t float where you can’t swim. Keep checking to see if the water is too deep, or if you are too far away from the shore or poolside.
Take the pledge
Take the water/pool safety pledge it’s a great way to get kids involved in staying safe this summer! Take the pledge and get a free toolkit for portable and above-ground pools and simple water safety steps.
How to protect
Young children
- Never leave young children unattended in and or around water
- Make sure young children wear proper swim gear including life jackets when in and around the water
- Enroll your young children in swim and/or survival swimming lessons
Teens and young adults
- Set good boundaries for yourself – no pushing, no diving in unfamiliar swim areas, and never drinking alcohol when swimming
- Don’t swim alone
- Learn CPR and rescue techniques
- Enroll in swim lessons
Parents and adults
- Remember lifeguards are not baby sitters – don’t allow yourself to be distracted because there is a lifeguard at your pool
- Learn CPR and rescue techniques
- Always check the water first if a child is missing
- Never leave your child alone in and/or around the water
- Call 911 immediately if someone is found unresponsive in the water
- Published: June 25, 2021
- Page reviewed/updated: August 16, 2023
