Drowning Prevention Coalition Do's and Don'ts (2024)

Teach children water safety and swimming skills as early as possible.
Teach yourself water safety/rescue and swimming skills.
Appoint a "designated-water watcher" to monitor children during social gatherings at/or near bodies of water.
Always brief babysitters on water safety, emphasizing the need for constant supervision.
Keep rescue equipment accessible at poolside and post CPR instructions.
Invest in layers of protection for backyard pools such as: installing doors and windows that exit to a pool area with alarms and fencing with self closing latches.
Maintain constant visual contact with children in a pool or pool area.
Install a poolside phone, preferably a fully charged cordless model, with emergency numbers programmed into the speed dial.
If a child is missing, check all sources of water near home first; seconds count in preventing death or disability.
Always require all children and adults who are unable to swim to wear a USCG-approved life jacket
Be knowledgeable on basic emergency rescue techniques
Ensure children always wear a life jacket when boating AND set a good example by also wearing one yourself!

Don't rely on swimming lessons, life preservers or other equipment to make a child "water safe." There is no substitute for supervision.
Don't ever leave a child alone in a body of water (bathtub, pool, etc.), 2 seconds is too long, let the phone ring.
Don't allow children to push playmates, jump on others, "dunk" one another, dive or jump in shallow water.
Don't leave objects such as toys that might attract a child in the pool or pool area.
Don't use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
Never prop the gate to a pool area open.
Never assume someone else is watching a child in a pool area.
Don't leave chairs or other items of furniture where a child could use them to climb into a fenced pool area.
Don't think you'll hear a child who is in trouble in the water; drowning is a silent death, with no splashing to alert anyone that there is trouble.
Don't use ANY flotation device that is not approved by the USCG.