Summer and Water Safety

As summer begins and time spent outdoors participating in water activities increases, it is important to stay safe.

Being around water can be especially dangerous for young children. Children can drown in as little as two inches of water. Drownings are 100% preventable by following the water safety tips below.

Pool and Water Safety for Children:

• Always watch children in or near water. Never leave them unattended, not even for short periods of time.
• Learn to swim and teach children how to swim.
• Ensure all pools and spas have compliant drain covers and teach children to stay away from them.

Water Safety for Everyone:

• Swim with a friend. Even strong swimmers should make sure they are in the water with someone else who can swim.
• Know how to perform CPR on children and adults.
• At the beach or in a lake, only swim in areas with a lifeguard on duty. Follow all signs and warnings.
• Stay alert to rip currents. Check water conditions before going in by looking at the local beach forecast before you leave. Visit the National Weather Service Before You Go in the Water page to learn more about what to do if you're caught in a rip current.
• Keep an eye on the weather forecast. If a thunderstorm approaches when you are swimming or near water, get out of the water and seek shelter in a house, large building or car with its windows closed.
• Know how deep the water is. Do not dive into the water if you don't know how deep it is. Diving into shallow water can cause serious injury or death. Even strong swimmers should be aware when they are in deep water.

For more tips on staying safe during the summer, visit Ready.gov.